title: Detection of alcohol consumption during pregnancy--current and future biomarkers.
abstract: Alcohol, one of the most frequently reported addictions, is a significant public health problem in the USA. Early identification is important and would aid in intervention for the pregnant woman who continues to drink and for the affected infant. To date, there isn't a definitive test which identifies either alcohol abuse during pregnancy or newborns exposed to alcohol prenatally. The existing biomarkers can detect varying degrees of alcohol exposure but further research is needed to improve sensitivity/specificity and to validate these markers.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University and Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, 11100 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, OH 44106, USA. ylittner@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Yoav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Littner
authors.forename: Cynthia F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bearer
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000431:Ethanol