Congenital malformations: Are they more prevalent in populations with a high incidence of consanguineous marriages?

There is the impression that congenital malformations are more prevalent in populations with a high intermarriage rate, including Saudi Arabia. Although some studies have been reported from other parts of the country 1-6 or neighboring countries, none has specifically addressed the population of the Al-Hasa area in the Eastern Province, where consanguineous marriages are very common, nor specifically the relationship with consanguineous marriage. We therefore undertook a study of the congenital anomalies diagnosed within the first few days after birth in infants delivered in our institution.