Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025
19:57
The Use of Trace Eyeblink Classical Conditioning to Assess Hippocampal Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Published on: August 5, 2017
8.4K
Fetal Hydantoin Syndrome: A Case Report
Sanchit Aggarwal1, Manidipa Barman1, Binita Poudel1
1Paediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, IND.
Cureus
|January 1, 2024
Summary
Epilepsy in pregnancy requires careful management due to anti-seizure medications (ASMs) risks. This case highlights severe fetal hydantoin syndrome from phenytoin, emphasizing the need for controlled epilepsy treatment during gestation.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neurology
- Teratology
Background:
- Epilepsy affects maternal and fetal health during pregnancy, requiring seizure control.
- Many anti-seizure medications (ASMs) pose teratogenic risks to the fetus.
- Uncontrolled epilepsy in pregnancy can lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
Observation:
- A case of severe fetal hydantoin syndrome is presented.
- The mother was on phenytoin for three years prior to pregnancy.
- The pregnancy was unregistered, potentially delaying prenatal care.
Findings:
- Phenytoin exposure in utero resulted in life-threatening major congenital anomalies.
- Fetal hydantoin syndrome is characterized by specific dysmorphic features and developmental issues.
- This syndrome underscores the teratogenic potential of certain ASMs.
Implications:
- Highlights the critical need for preconception counseling for women with epilepsy.
- Emphasizes the importance of selecting safer ASMs during pregnancy.
- Underscores the necessity of comprehensive prenatal monitoring for fetal anomalies.
