Maternal age in patients with septo-optic dysplasia.

Aim: To determine whether patients with septooptic dysplasia (SOD) are of normal birth weight and gestation but are born to mothers who are significantly younger than average.

Methods: Retrospective study of 30 patients with SOD attending the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Glasgow. Birth data for the Scottish population were used for comparison.

Results: Mean birth weight was 3.42 (range 2.66-4.18) kg. One patient was born preterm while the rest were born at term. Data for the Scottish population were available from 1979 onwards and 26 patients born after this year were selected for analysis. Median maternal age in this group was 21 (range 16-41) years, significantly lower than the median maternal age for Scotland of 27.12 (range 25.8-28.6) years (95% CI 4.8-8.0 years).

Conclusion: Patients with SOD are of normal birth weight and gestation but are born to mothers who are significantly younger than average.