MCQ 35 Amniotic fluid contains acetyl cholinesterase enzyme.What is the diagnosis?

A.Open spina bifida
B.Gastrochisis
C.Omphalocele
D.Osteogenesis imperfecta


The correct answer is A.Open spina bifida


NOTE: Spina Bifida is the developmental congenital disorder which is caused by incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube.Usually under normal circumstances,neural tube is closed after 23rd(rostral closure) and 27th(caudal closure) day of fertilisation.
It may be of following types:i)Myelomeningocele which is most common and most severe complication,ii)Spina bifida occluta and iii)Posterior meningocele or Meningeal cyst,which is least common.
Diagnosis of Spina bifida depends on the mother's blood testing for alpha-fetoprotein in pregnancy or detailed fetal ultrasound.Increased level of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein should be followed by two tests:
i)fetal ultrasound and ii)Amniocentesis.Amniocentesis is done for testing alpha-fetoprotein and acetylcholinesterase.