Congenital deformities

Radioactive iodine passes the placenta and accumulates in the fetal thyroid where the concentration probably exceeds that in the maternal thyroid. Detailed studies show that the fetal dose of iodine is virtually nil before the 90th day of gestation but sharply increases thereafter (29). This alone is sufficient reason to avoid the use of 131I in pregnancy, but there is also some controversial evidence that various congenital deformities have been produced by the isotope (30). 

Bone is a living and functioning part of the body. A broken bone will generate new growth to repair the fracture and fill in any areas from which bone is removed. Therefore, a bone that is congenitally deformed (from birth) can be manipulated, cut, braced, or otherwise treated to provide a normal form. A broken bone held in alignment will heal and no physical deformity will result. 

In 1960-61 in [West] Germany an outbreak of phocomelia occurred. Phocomelia means seal extremities it is a congenital deformity in which the long bones of the limbs are defective and substantially normal or rudimentary hands and feet arise on, or nearly on, the trunk, like the flippers of a seal other abnormalities may occur. Phocomelia is ordinarily exceedingly rare. 

Henderson IWD. Congenital deformities associated with Bendectin. Can Med Assoc J 1977 117(7) 721-2. 

Saunders H, Wright R, Hodgkin K. Thalidomide and congenital deformities. BMJ 1962 5307 796. 

Teratogenic effects of maneb are observed at relatively high levels of exposure. Progeny of albino rats treated with either 700 or 1400 mg kg maneb twice a week for 4.5 months showed congenital deformities in the caudal vertebrae, palates, limbs, and tail. However, in the mouse the teratogenic effects of maneb exposure were much milder, with almost no deformities observed. 

Rubella is a mild, often subclinical infection that is common among children aged between 4 and 9 years. Infection during the first trimester of pregnancy brings with it a major risk of abortion or congenital deformity in the fetus (congenital rubella syndrome, CRS). 

Pili torti is a rare congenital deformity of the hair characterized by flattened fibers with multiple twists. In some cases, the hair grows to a normal... 

Runner, M. N., Inheritance of susceptibility to congenital deformity. Metabolic clues provided by experiments with teratogenic agents. Pediatrics, 1959, 23 245-251. 

Leatherman KD, Dickson RA (1979) Two-stage corrective surgery for congenital deformities of the spine. JBJS 61-B 324-328... 

Dyson D, Wrathall A (1977) Congenital deformities in pigs possibly associated with exposure to hemlock Conium maculatum). Vet Rec 100 241-242... 

Deformities of the feet were seen by Mier et al. (1960), Schwartz et al. (1963), SoBREViLLA (1964), FoRSYTH et al. (1965), usually as unilateral or bilateral pes cavus. Congenital deformities of the toes (Forsyth et al. 1965) and polydactyly (Friedman et al. 1960) have been described. 

Shupe, J. L., Binns, W., James, L. F., and Keeler, R. F. 1968. A Congenital Deformity in Calves Induced by the Maternal Consumption of Lupine. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 19 335-340. 

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