Prenatal alcohol exposure and long-term developmental consequences

Journal Article · Sat Apr 10 00:00:00 EDT 1993 · Lancet; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0140-6736(93)91207-3· OSTI ID:6396417

Spohr, H L; Willms, J ^[1]; Steinhausen, H C ^[2]

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1. Rittberg Hospital of the German Red Cross, Berlin (Germany). Dept. of Pediatrics
2. Univ. of Zuerich (Switzerland). Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a leading cause of congenital mental retardation but little is known about the long-term development and adolescent outcome of children with FAS. In a 10-year follow-up study of 60 patients diagnosed as having FAS in infancy and childhood, the authors investigated the long-term sequelae of intrauterine alcohol exposure. The authors found that the characteristic craniofacial malformations of FAS diminish with time, but microcephaly and, to a lesser degree, short stature and underweight (in boys) persist; in female adolescents body weight normalizes. Persistent mental retardation is the major sequela of intrauterine alcohol exposure in many cases, and environmental and educational factors do not have strong compensatory effects on the intellectual development of affected children.

• OSTI ID: 6396417
• Journal Information: Lancet; (United States), Vol. 341:8850; ISSN 0099-5355
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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