Amniotic band syndrome: etiology, clinical features, diagnosis

The article presents the problem of birth defects caused by amniotic bands (AB) — amniotic band syndrome (ABS). This syndrome is of multifactorial origin, the incidence of diagnosis is 7,7:10 000 newborns. ABS is characterized by clinical heterogeneity: limb deformities (occur most frequently), head and brain abnormalities, rare cases of body disorders, omphalocele, etc. Fetal surgery through laser release of AB is described. In some cases ABS should be differentiated from Meckel syndrome, Edwards syndrome and other congenital diseases as well as neural tube defects. In case of ABS diagnosis in fetus as a result of ultrasound examination of a pregnant woman consultation of physicians (obstetrician—gynaecologist, medical geneticist, specialist in ultrasound prenatal diagnostics, neonatologist surgeon) including pediatric orthopedist is needed to determine proper tactics of pregnancy management. Recurrence risks for future offspring of a woman whose child (or fetus in history) has had ABS as well as for the persons with ABS do not exceed 2 %.