[Fetal alcohol syndrome]

Fetal alcohol syndrome is frequently observed. It is estimated that 0.2% of newborns in France have fetal alcohol syndrome, a rate which reaches 1% in certain studies. Ultrasound diagnosis is straightforward, based on: - intrauterine growth retardation, predominantly involving the limbs and occurring early without oligoamnios; - specific facial dysmorphism with two essential signs, frontal rounding of the philtrum, suppression of the Cupidon arch; - several malformations involving the corpus callosum, ocular and renal tissue; - markedly higher incidence in multiple parity women over thirty who gain little weight during pregnancy. We report seven cases observed between 1994 and 1999 and discuss the growth curve and the facial dysmorphism.