In: Biology
3. A pregnant woman has come to you for advice. By mistake she took thalidomide prescribed for her husband. She is certain that she took the drug during the third week of pregnancy, she is now near the end of the second trimester. She has come to you to determine whether her child will be born with malformed limbs.
a. Explain what test or tests you would suggest that could answer her question.
b. Explain why you choose that test.
c. What results would you expect from your test if the fetus was affected.
PLEASE BE SPECIFIC
a) Fetal ultrasonografy is the most important tool to provide prenatal diagnosis of fetal anomalies.
b) I would suggest to my patient she must go for ultrasonography because for diagnosis of limb abnormalities, ultrasound machine quality and good operator skills can easy identify the minor defect in foetus. Ultrasonography is good test for detection malformation of limbs which was happened due to thalidomide consumtion during pregnancy.
c)
Limb formation occurs at 4-8 weeks gestation, while primary ossification centers develop in all the long bones of the limbs by the 12th week of gestation.
The molecular regulation of limb formation is under the control of different gene families like HOX gene , BMPs, FGF and SHh. If thalidomide is taken during pregnancy it can affect the regulation of these limbs development genes.
Since thalidomide drug can be absorbed through the skin and lungs and may harm an unborn baby, women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should not handle this medication or breathe the dust from broken capsules.