Prenatal alcohol exposure and its repercussion on newborns

BACKGROUND

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy, even when moderate, implies a risk of impaired neurodevelopment, physical impairments and malformations. Its early identification is essential for establishing preventive measures to diminish disabilities among newborns.

METHODS

To determine the frequency of consumption of substance use in pregnant women, we have used the techniques of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry to detect drugs and markers of chronic consumption of alcohol in meconium. We performed a prospective study during a period of 10 months among 110 infants in our hospital, assessing anthropometry, neuromuscular development and determination of toxic substances in urine and meconium. Furthermore, meconium analysis identified fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) and ethyl glucuronide (Etg). We also conducted a survey regarding the obstetric history, toxic habits, and employment status of the mothers.

RESULTS

According to early detection markers analyzed in meconium (FAEE >1000 ng/g and/or Etg >50 ng/g meconium), 34.65% of pregnant women consumed alcohol during pregnancy, and 17% were positive for both markers. Within the positive cases, 50% of those exceeding a FAEE's value of 5000 ng/g in meconium had low birth-weight children. Only 5/110 mothers (4.5%) admitted to occasional alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Nobody admitted to frequent intake. The cocaine test was positive in three cases; two of them were positive for alcohol as well.

CONCLUSION

As expected, many screening devices do not accurately capture use during pregnancy and supplemental methods such as meconium analysis of biomarkers of chronic alcohol consumption may be warranted.

[Ante-natal corticosteroids and prevention of respiratory distress in the premature newborn: usefulness of rescue treatment]

The effectiveness of antenatal corticosteroid therapy for foetal lung maturation in pre-term infants is well known, but there is uncertainty about the time that the treatment remains effective. A descriptive, longitudinal study was conducted to determine whether the need for surfactant administration was determined by the time-lapse between corticosteroids administration and delivery, and when repeating the doses of maternal corticosteroids should be considered. A total of 91 premature infants ≤32 weeks and/or ≤1,500 g (limit 34+6 weeks) whose mothers had received a complete course of corticosteroids were included. In patients at 27-34+6 weeks, we found that the longer the time elapsed between delivery and administration of corticosteroids, most likely were the babies to require treatment with surfactant (P=.027). The resulting ROC curve determined an 8-days cut-off after which repeating a dose of corticosteroids should be assessed.

Serum levels of IGF1 are a useful predictor of retinopathy of prematurity

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and is a useful predictor of the disease. Although its aetiopathogenesis is multifactorial, development of the disease appears to be related to a deficiency in IGF1, a hormone that acts together with vascular endothelial growth factor in the normal angiogenesis in the retina.

DESIGN

Prospective study for a 30-month period.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 74 premature newborn babies, of less than 1500 g and/or 32 weeks' gestational age or less.

TESTING

To determine the development and severity of ROP.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum levels of IGF1 were measured once a week from birth until 40 weeks corrected gestational age in each subject.

RESULTS

Of our subjects, 32.4% developed some form of ROP, and all those ROP patients had the following characteristics at birth (median +/- standard deviation scores): low weight (1098 +/- 188 vs. 1393 +/- 285 g), short length (36.74 +/- 1.77 vs. 38.89 +/- 3.08 cm), small cranial perimeter (26.03 +/- 1.74 vs. 27.93 +/- 1.81 cm) and young gestational age (29.7 +/- 1.78 vs. 31.3 +/- 1.79 weeks) (p < 0.05). Other factors previously associated with ROP that were also observed with statistically significant frequency in our ROP patients were bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intracranial haemorrhage, the need for erythrocyte transfusion or treatment with erythropoietin and sepsis (all p < 0.05). Levels of IGF1 at the 3rd week post-partum, independent of gestational age at birth, were clearly lower in the group who developed ROP (29.13 vs. 43.16 ng/mL, p < 0.05). A value of 30 ng/mL of IGF1 in the third week post-partum was found to have a 90% sensitivity in the diagnosis of ROP. A rapid rise in IGF1 levels between the 3rd and 5th weeks appeared to be related to the development of a higher stage of ROP.

CONCLUSION

Determination of IGF1 serum levels in the 3rd week post-partum, independent of gestational age at birth, provides a sufficient and reliable prognostic tool and allows the identification of a group of patients at high risk of developing the disease.

Serum levels of IGF1 are a useful predictor of retinopathy of prematurity

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) is associated with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and is a useful predictor of the disease. Although its aetiopathogenesis is multifactorial, development of the disease appears to be related to a deficiency in IGF1, a hormone that acts together with vascular endothelial growth factor in the normal angiogenesis in the retina.

DESIGN

Prospective study for a 30-month period.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 74 premature newborn babies, of less than 1500 g and/or 32 weeks' gestational age or less.

TESTING

To determine the development and severity of ROP.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum levels of IGF1 were measured once a week from birth until 40 weeks corrected gestational age in each subject.

RESULTS

Of our subjects, 32.4% developed some form of ROP, and all those ROP patients had the following characteristics at birth (median +/- standard deviation scores): low weight (1098 +/- 188 vs. 1393 +/- 285 g), short length (36.74 +/- 1.77 vs. 38.89 +/- 3.08 cm), small cranial perimeter (26.03 +/- 1.74 vs. 27.93 +/- 1.81 cm) and young gestational age (29.7 +/- 1.78 vs. 31.3 +/- 1.79 weeks) (p < 0.05). Other factors previously associated with ROP that were also observed with statistically significant frequency in our ROP patients were bronchopulmonary dysplasia, intracranial haemorrhage, the need for erythrocyte transfusion or treatment with erythropoietin and sepsis (all p < 0.05). Levels of IGF1 at the 3rd week post-partum, independent of gestational age at birth, were clearly lower in the group who developed ROP (29.13 vs. 43.16 ng/mL, p < 0.05). A value of 30 ng/mL of IGF1 in the third week post-partum was found to have a 90% sensitivity in the diagnosis of ROP. A rapid rise in IGF1 levels between the 3rd and 5th weeks appeared to be related to the development of a higher stage of ROP.

CONCLUSION

Determination of IGF1 serum levels in the 3rd week post-partum, independent of gestational age at birth, provides a sufficient and reliable prognostic tool and allows the identification of a group of patients at high risk of developing the disease.

Cerebral syncope in children

We report a child with recurrent syncopal episodes who underwent head-up tilt testing according to a protocol that includes continuous and noninvasive measurement of brain oxygen saturation. We demonstrated significant cerebral hypoxemia during syncope without concomitant systemic hemodynamic disturbances. This response to head-up tilt test suggested the diagnosis of cerebral syncope.