[Fetal alcohol syndrome and fetal alcohol effects: importance of early diagnosis and nutritional treatment].
BACKGROUND
Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol effects (FAE) encompass a pattern of birth defects in persons whose mothers ingested alcohol during pregnancy. People with FAE display fewer of the FAS traits.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence and features of these affections in a secondary nutritional recovery centre.


METHODS
All charts of children admitted between 1985 and 1995 were reviewed, and those children diagnosed as having a FAS or FAE by a geneticist were considered for this study. Birth, maternal, social and economic characteristics, psychomotor abilities (using Denver test) and response to nutritional treatment were assessed.


RESULTS
During the study period, 1572 infants were admitted to the centre, and 1.97% (70% female) were diagnosed as having a FAS or FAE. These infants were admitted at 11.1 +/- 4.5 months of age and discharged after 96.7 +/- 58.1 months of hospitalisation. Mean mother's age was 33 +/- 7 years, and all belonged to low socioeconomic levels. Mean birth weight was 2048 +/- 431 g and 2469 +/- 619 g in children with FAS and FAE respectively (p < 0.03). Children with FAE performed better for gross and fine motor abilities than those with FAS. No differences were observed for language performance. Sixty five percent of children with FAS and 71% of children with FAE had an adequate weight and height increment during nutritional therapy. A multiple regression analysis showed that age at admission and gestational age were significant predictors of weight gain during therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol has teratogenic effects on the foetus that affect craneal size and psychomotor development. Alcohol also affects pre and post natal growth.
Alvear
J
J
Unidad de Genética y Enfermedades Metabólicas, INTA, Universidad de Chile.
Andreani
S
S
Cortés
F
F
D000437:Alcoholism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012923:Social Class; D013997:Time Factors
D000431:Ethanol