title: Alcohol Consumption during Pregnancy: Analysis of Two Direct Metabolites of Ethanol in Meconium.
abstract: Alcohol consumption in young women is a widespread habit that may continue during pregnancy and induce alterations in the fetus. We aimed to characterize prevalence of alcohol consumption in parturient women and to assess fetal ethanol exposure in their newborns by analyzing two direct metabolites of ethanol in meconium. This is a cross-sectional study performed in September 2011 and March 2012 in a series of women admitted to an obstetric unit following childbirth. During admission, socio-demographic and substance use (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, and opiates) during pregnancy were assessed using a structured questionnaire and clinical charts. We also recorded the characteristics of pregnancy, childbirth, and neonates. The meconium analysis was performed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to detect the presence of ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulfate (EtS). Fifty-one parturient and 52 neonates were included and 48 meconium samples were suitable for EtG and EtS detection. The median age of women was 30 years (interquartile range (IQR): 26-34 years); EtG was present in all meconium samples and median concentration of EtG was 67.9 ng/g (IQR: 36.0-110.6 ng/g). With respect to EtS, it was undetectable (<0.01 ng/g) in the majority of samples (79.1%). Only three (6%) women reported alcohol consumption during pregnancy in face-to-face interviews. However, prevalence of fetal exposure to alcohol through the detection of EtG and EtS was 4.2% and 16.7%, respectively. Prevention of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and the detection of substance use with markers of fetal exposure are essential components of maternal and child health.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain. asanvisens.igtp.germanstrias@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Arantza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sanvisens
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain. bukatha@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.affiliation: Proteomic and Metabolomic Unit, Fundació Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, Spain. josemariahernandezp@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain. yzuluaga@igtp.cat.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zuluaga
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pharmacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain. mfarre.germanstrias@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Magí
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farré
authors.affiliation: Paediatrics, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain. wcoroleu.germanstrias@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Wifredo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Coroleu
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gyneacology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain. mserra.germanstrias@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain. jordi.tor@uab.cat.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tor
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08916 Badalona, Spain. rmuga.germanstrias@gencat.cat.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005965:Glucuronates / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005965:Glucuronates; D013463:Sulfuric Acid Esters; C093924:ethyl glucuronide; D000431:Ethanol; C011612:diethyl sulfate
keywords: ethyl glucuronide; ethyl sulfate; fetal ethanol exposure; meconium