Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Fetal alcohol syndrome involves developmental defects due to maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
Pathophysiology
The placental barrier gives free entry to ethanol and Its toxic metabolites like acetaldehyde into the fetal compartment, so whenever mommy is drinking, fetus is drinking too. The developing fetal nervous system is very sensitive to ethanol and its toxic metabolites. CNS tissue proliferation, differentiation and neuronal migration gets compromised in presence of ethanol. Unlike adult liver, fetal liver is incapable of detoxifying ethanol, which leads to major defects in growth and metabolism in fetal tissues.
Clinical presentation
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is associated with following triad
- CNS Dysfunction
- Growth Retardation
- Facial Abnormalities
CNS Dysfunction
Clinically significant structural neurological, or functional impairment is seen. Fetus characteristically has microcephaly and mental retardation. Children can have seizure, behavioral problems and learning difficulties.
Growth Retardation
Prenatal or postnatal height or weight (or both) at and below the 10th percentile. Infant are small for gestational age and grows into short statured Child.
Facial Abnormalities
The three Most characteristic facial features are -
- Small palpebral fissures
- Thin upper lip
- Smooth philtrum
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Revision for today https://creativemeddoses.com/topics-list/duchenne-muscular-dystrophy-illustrations/
Further reading https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448178/
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