[Outcome of children of alcoholic mothers (study of 105 cases followed to adult age) and various prophylactic findings].

Thirty years after recognition of the fetal alcohol syndrome, a study of 105 affected individuals who reached adulthood provides insight into the long-term outcome of this condition. The typical facial dysmorphism undergoes odd changes, often with a long face and a bulky nose and chin, in contrast to the appearance of affected infants. The growth failure becomes slightly less marked. The malformations, which occur in 3/4 of severe forms, increase the disability although function is sometimes better than expected. In contrast, the microcephaly becomes more pronounced. This explains the psychic disorders which are the main prognostic factor: mental retardation in the most severely affected patients or severe learning disabilities and, in every case, behavior disorders and marked instability. Similar disorders are often found in siblings with no apparent dysmorphism underlining the extent of the problem and the urgent need for prophylaxis. Some of the observations made in adults, confronted to embryologic data, lead to useful inferences with respect to prophylaxis.