Neuroblastoma, maternal valproic acid use, in-vitro fertilization and family history of mosaic chromosome 22: coincidence or causal relationship?

We report a family with co-occurring disorders including neuroblastoma in the first child conceived by in-vitro fertilization with history of sodium valproate use by the mother during pregnancy and mosaic trisomy 22 in the third child. We discuss the possibility of an association between the disorders but conclude that no firm aetiological connection can be established between the different disorders in this family. (C) 2004 Lippincott Williams Wilkins