Down’s syndrome theory

Press, 3 September 1984, Page 4

Down’s syndrome theory

PA Hamilton Mothers’ illness histories may be linked to the birth of Down’s syndrome children, says the professor of general practice at Otago University, Professor Campbell Murdoch. Statistical research sug-

gested that previous illnesses, and perhaps medications taken, not the age of the mother, could be a factor increasing the risk of Down’s syndrome handicap, Professor Murdoch told a conference of general practitioners, at Hamilton. The three-day conference

was organised by the Waikato Postgraduate Medical Society.

Professor Murdoch said weight was added to the theory with evidence that Down’s syndrome children now were born to younger mothers.

This phenomenon could be significant in the light of more liberal drug prescribing in recent years, he said.

Risk of another genetic defect, spina bifida, could be cut more than 80 per cent by special vitamin supplements for at-risk mothers before pregnancy. Perhaps a similar solution was a possibility for Down’s syndrome, Professor Murdoch said.

Handicap in children was a heavy social cost and solutions were worth finding purely on economic grounds. Professor Murdoch said genetic counselling and preparing parents for parenthood had to become a more important role for the general practitioner. Successful work in infection control and ante-natal and neo-natal care had reduced much infant handicap. This meant that genetic forms of handicap were accounting for a higher percentage of total handicap, he said.