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Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders - diagnostic difficulties in the neonatal period and new diagnostic approaches

Iwona Jańczewska1, Jolanta Wierzba2, Monika Cichoń-Kotek3

  • 1Department of Neonatology, Medical University of Gdansk, Poland.

Developmental Period Medicine
|April 8, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Diagnosing fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) early is challenging. Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) in meconium offer a promising, non-invasive method for detecting prenatal alcohol exposure in newborns.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatology
  • Toxicology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) result from prenatal alcohol exposure.
  • Current diagnostic criteria for fetal alcohol syndrome are often difficult to apply in early infancy due to incomplete feature manifestation.
  • Neonatal period diagnosis is increasingly feasible.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore novel biomarkers for early detection of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
  • To evaluate the utility of ethanol metabolites in biological tissues for diagnosing prenatal alcohol exposure.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of ethanol metabolites including fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), ethyl glucuronide, and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in biological samples.
  • Samples analyzed include meconium, blood, placenta, urine, hair, and nails from mothers and newborns.
  • Focus on FAEE presence in meconium as a non-invasive marker.

Main Results:

  • Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) are detectable in meconium, blood, and hair of mothers and newborns.
  • Ethyl glucuronide is found in placenta, meconium, urine, nails, and hair.
  • Phosphatidylethanol (PEth) is present in infant blood.
  • FAEE in meconium shows potential as a non-invasive, cost-effective early detection method.

Conclusions:

  • Ethanol metabolites provide viable biomarkers for diagnosing prenatal alcohol exposure.
  • Fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium represent a promising non-invasive approach for early FASD detection.
  • Further research can refine diagnostic capabilities in the neonatal period.

Keywords:
FASDFetal Alcohol Spectrum Disordersalcohol biomarkerscongenital abnormalitiesfatty acidsfetal growth retardationmeconiumneonatepregnancyprenatal alcohol exposure

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