Incidence of renal anomalies in children prenatally exposed to ethanol.
OBJECTIVE
Based on a number of studies involving animals as well as human case reports indicating an association between prenatal ethanol exposure and renal malformations, it has been suggested that children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) should be screened for renal anomalies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a group of children prenatally exposed to alcohol to determine the incidence of renal anomalies and to evaluate the need for such a screening procedure.


METHODS
Renal ultrasounds were performed on a total of 84 patients (68 children, 13 adolescents, and three adults). In addition to screening for malformations, renal size was studied. Data were analyzed using both chronologic and height-age as determinants of kidney size.


METHODS
Of these 84 patients, 51 (61%) had FAS, and 33 (39%) had a history of prenatal ethanol exposure but did not have FAS.


RESULTS
Three (3.6%) patients (one with FAS, two with prenatal ethanol exposure who did not have FAS) had significant renal abnormalities. This incidence was not significantly different from that found in ultrasound screening of newborns. The kidneys of children with both FAS and prenatal ethanol exposure who did not have FAS were significantly smaller than normal for both chronologic and height-age. When children were compared across chronologic ages, those with FAS had significantly smaller kidneys than those who had no evidence of FAS. After adjusting for height, the difference between these two groups was no longer significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these data, children prenatally exposed to ethanol do not need to be screened for renal anomalies.
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego.
C L
CL
Taylor
K L
KL
Jones
M C
MC
Jones
G W
GW
Kaplan
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007668:Kidney / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography
D000431:Ethanol