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Polymicrogyria in fetal alcohol syndrome
Konstanze Reinhardt1, Alexander Mohr, Jutta Gärtner
1Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Neurology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. konstanze.reinhardt@med.uni-goettingen.de
Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology
|September 19, 2009
Summary
Prenatal alcohol exposure can cause polymicrogyria (PMG), a brain malformation, in individuals with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). This case highlights the wide range of brain abnormalities linked to maternal alcohol use during pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Teratology
Background:
- Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), characterized by craniofacial abnormalities and central nervous system dysfunction.
- Brain malformations, particularly those affecting neuronal cell migration, are a broader consequence of prenatal alcohol exposure beyond the typical FAS phenotype.
- Polymicrogyria (PMG), a condition of excessive cortical folding, has been rarely reported in association with FAS.
Observation:
- A 16-year-old female with a confirmed FAS diagnosis presented with epileptic seizures.
- Cranial MRI revealed bilateral polymicrogyria (PMG) in the superior frontal gyrus.
- No other known genetic or acquired causes for PMG were identified in the patient.
Findings:
- This case represents the second documented instance of polymicrogyria (PMG) in a patient with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
- The findings suggest a causal link between prenatal alcohol exposure and the development of PMG.
- The study underscores the significant phenotypic variability of brain malformations associated with maternal alcohol abuse.
Implications:
- Neuroimaging is recommended for patients with FAS exhibiting neurological deficits or seizures.
- Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) should be considered in the differential diagnosis of polymicrogyria (PMG), especially when there is a history of maternal alcohol consumption.
- This case expands the understanding of the spectrum of neurological complications associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.
