[Alcoholic embryofetopathy. Neonatal case reports for the past twelve years].

OBJECTIVE

Alcohol embryopathy represents an important pediatric and obstetric problem, not only for the high risk of adverse effects on the neurodevelopment of the fetus and child, but for the imperative need for detecting and preventing alcohol consumption during pregnancy. In this study the clinical manifestations of newborns with maternal antecedents of alcohol consumption are reviewed.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

Our experience from 1985 to 1996 with all newborns diagnosed as "children of an alcoholic mother, without associated clinical findings or partial forms (fetal alcohol effect) or as "alcohol embryofetopathy (complete forms) is reviewed. In this study we have reviewed the obstetric and neonatal records of 33 newborns born to 33 alcohol abusers, collecting both maternal (serological tests, alcohol and other substances consumed during pregnancy) and neonatal (gestational age, birth weight, birth length, head circumference, pathology, physical anomalies, cardiovascular defects and acute withdrawal symptoms) data.

RESULTS

Our findings are similar to those described in other reports as regards to the incidence (1.9/1,000 newborns) and clinical manifestations, with the exception only in the low proportion of microcephalia. In our experience, alcohol consumption in pregnancy is associated with a high risk of low birth weight (39%) and intrauterine growth retardation (21%), malformations (42%, 9% cardiopathies), prematurity (54%) and maternal drug addiction (24%, with HIV serology positive in 18%). Acute withdrawal symptoms were detected in 24% of these newborns.