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Fetal hydantoin syndrome: A case report
1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, Manav Rachna Dental College, Faridabad, Haryana, India.
Summary
Fetal hydantoin syndrome (FHS) can occur when pregnant individuals take the antiepileptic drug phenytoin. This case report details an 8-year-old with features suggestive of FHS, highlighting potential developmental risks.
Area of Science:
- Teratology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Fetal hydantoin syndrome (FHS) is a recognized consequence of prenatal exposure to phenytoin, an antiepileptic drug (AED).
- Phenytoin exposure during pregnancy can lead to a range of congenital anomalies affecting multiple organ systems.
- Understanding the teratogenic profile of AEDs is crucial for managing epilepsy in pregnant individuals.
Observation:
- This report describes an 8-year-old child presenting with clinical features consistent with FHS.
- The child was born to a mother with a history of epilepsy treated with AEDs during gestation.
- The observed manifestations align with the known spectrum of FHS defects.
Findings:
- The case illustrates the potential for significant developmental abnormalities following in utero phenytoin exposure.
- Clinical features included limb and hand anomalies, ocular defects, CNS anomalies, and intrauterine growth restriction.
- The diagnosis of FHS was suspected based on the constellation of physical findings.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of careful counseling and monitoring for pregnant individuals with epilepsy on AED therapy.
- It highlights the need for awareness among healthcare providers regarding the teratogenic risks associated with phenytoin.
- Further research into safer AED alternatives and management strategies for epilepsy during pregnancy is warranted.
