Peripheral nerve conduction abnormalities in children exposed to alcohol in utero.
OBJECTIVE
We performed a longitudinal study of nerve conduction velocity to determine the effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on the peripheral nervous system. Study design We studied 17 children exposed to >2 oz of absolute alcohol/day prenatally and 13 unexposed children, identified prospectively from a cohort of pregnant women screened during prenatal care. Nerve conduction assessment was done on the median, ulnar, peroneal and tibial nerves during the newborn period and between 12 and 14 months of age.


RESULTS
At both assessments the alcohol-exposed subjects had significantly slower ulnar motor nerve velocity (P=.007), smaller proximal (P=.018) and distal amplitude (P=.051). They also showed reduced tibial nerve velocity (P=.06) and a decrease in distal amplitude.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with abnormalities in nerve electrical properties, and that the pattern is different from that seen in adults. Electrophysiologic abnormalities in peripheral nerves should be added to the problems found in children of alcohol abusing mothers.
Department of Pediatrics and the Institute of Maternal and Child Research (IDIMI), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Mara de los Angeles
Mde L
Avaria
James L
JL
Mills
Karin
K
Kleinsteuber
Sofia
S
Aros
Mary R
MR
Conley
Christopher
C
Cox
Mark
M
Klebanoff
Fernando
F
Cassorla
D000200:Action Potentials; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020269:Alcoholic Neuropathy / Q000209:etiology*; D004525:Efferent Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects