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Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
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Screening for prenatal alcohol exposure and corresponding short-term neonatal outcomes

Stefan Maxwell1, Stephanie Thompson2, Fadi Zakko3

  • 1Pediatrix Medical Group and Department of Pediatrics, Charleston Area Medical Center, Charleston, WV, USA.

Reproductive Toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)
|January 22, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Umbilical cord phosphatidylethanol (PEth) blood tests detected prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) more effectively than standard ethyl glucuronide (EtG) tissue tests. This biomarker is crucial for identifying infants at risk for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Biomarker analysis
  • Neonatal health
  • Public health

Background:

  • Early detection of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is critical for timely intervention.
  • Current methods for PAE detection have limitations.
  • Umbilical cord (UC) biomarkers offer a window into fetal exposure during pregnancy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the detection rates of phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in UC blood versus ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in UC tissue for PAE.
  • To evaluate pregnancy characteristics and neonatal outcomes in infants with and without PAE biomarkers.
  • To assess the utility of UC-PEth testing for identifying PAE at birth.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of records for 146 neonates undergoing UC-PEth dried blood spot testing alongside standard PAE screening.
  • Comparison of PAE detection rates between UC-PEth and UC tissue EtG.
  • Examination of neonatal dysmorphic features and short-term outcomes in relation to PAE biomarker status.

Main Results:

  • UC-PEth testing demonstrated a significantly higher PAE detection rate (26%) compared to UC tissue EtG (0%, p < 0.01).
  • No significant association was found between PAE and neonatal dysmorphic features or short-term adverse outcomes.
  • The lack of clear clinical signs in neonates underscores the importance of reliable biomarkers.

Conclusions:

  • UC-PEth testing shows promise as a valuable tool for assessing PAE at birth.
  • This biomarker can aid in identifying infants at risk for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
  • The findings support the need for advanced biomarker strategies in PAE detection and management.

Keywords:
Alcohol biomarkerFetal alcohol spectrum disorderNeonatal outcomesNeurodevelopmental disabilities

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