title: Fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium are associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes to two years of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) in meconium and neurodevelopment in infants exposed to alcohol in utero at 6.5 months, 1 year, and 2 years of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  A secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of mothers at high risk and their infants recruited after admission to a labor and delivery unit. Mothers were screened for drug and alcohol use during pregnancy by clinical interview and urine screening. Meconium was analyzed for FAEE in 216 newborn infants. Outcome measures included the Bayley Scales of Infant Development Mental (MDI) and Psychomotor (PDI) Developmental Index scores in infants at 6.5 months, 1 year, and 2 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After controlling for prenatal visits and maternal factors, increasing concentrations of FAEE were significantly associated with poorer mental and psychomotor development (beta +/- standard error) at all follow-up visits: ethyl myristate (MDI -2.46 +/- 1.24, P = .05; PDI -3.88 +/- 1.67, P = .02), ethyl oleate (MDI -1.94 +/- 0.65, P < .01; PDI -2.60 +/- 0.93, P < .01), ethyl linoleate (MDI -1.92 +/- 0.60, P < .01; PDI -2.28 +/- 0.84, P < .01), ethyl linolenate (MDI -1.99 +/- 0.74, P < .01; PDI -2.98 +/- 1.04, P < .01), and ethyl arachidonate (MDI -2.40 +/- 1.11, P = .03; PDI -3.32 +/- 1.51, P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FAEE in meconium may be a marker for identifying newborns at risk for neurodevelopmental delay from alcohol exposure in utero.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. petersj2@ccf.org
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: H Lester
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minnes
authors.forename: Lynn T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: Cynthia F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Bearer
mesh_terms: D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008041:Linoleic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008042:Linolenic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry*; D009226:Myristates / Q000032:analysis; D009829:Oleic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D010169:Palmitic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D008041:Linoleic Acids; D008042:Linolenic Acids; D009226:Myristates; D009829:Oleic Acids; D010169:Palmitic Acids; C035723:ethyl arachidonate; C032396:ethyl myristate; C007680:ethyl palmitate; C007678:ethyl linoleate; C039896:ethyl linolenate; C033180:ethyl oleate