The relationship of ceruloplasmin and neural tube defects.

Objective: To compare the levels of ceruloplasmin (cp) in the amniotic fluids and maternal bloods of second trimester fetuses with and without neural tube defects (NTD).

Materials And Methods: 66 pregnant women were included in the study. Amniocentesis was performed in 32 women in a patient group diagnosed as NTD or anencephaly and 34 pregnants in a control group with positive Down Syndrome screening test. Maternal bloods were also taken. Cp was measured with Erel's ceruloplasmin measurement method.

Results: The cp levels of the amniotic fluid of patients and controls were not statistically different (p>0.05). The cp levels of the maternal bloods were not different in two groups (p>0.05).

Conclusion: As an antioxidant, no relation was found between cp and NTD.