Fatty acid ethyl esters in meconium are associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes to two years of age.
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.
Peterson
Jennifer
J
Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. petersj2@ccf.org
Kirchner
H Lester
HL
Xue
Wei
W
Minnes
Sonia
S
Singer
Lynn T
LT
Bearer
Cynthia F
CF
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
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