TITLE: [Alcohol in pregnancy and fetal heart damage]
AUTHOR: Loser H; Themann H; Pfefferkorn JR
LANGUAGE: Ger
ABSTRACT:
Alcohol abuse and addiction during pregnancy can induce damage of
the heart muscle and heart defects in the offspring. Between 1973
and 1991 216 children with fetal alcohol syndrome were diagnosed
and examined for congenital heart defects. In 63 children (=
29,1%) heart defects were present, established mainly by heart
catheterization and/or echocardiography. Most frequently
ventricular septal defects (24/63) and atrial septal defects
(23/63) occurred, less frequent were AV-defects (3), PDA (3),
Fallots teralogy (5), and other malformations (5). Biopsy during
heart surgery in 3 children revealed histological and electron
microscopic changes of alcohol-cardiomyopathy. Heart defects are
predominantly found in children with higher degree of severity
concerning the clinical syndrome, less frequently in alcohol
effects (4/38 = 11%). Alcohol in pregnancy, even in the course of
so called social drinking, usual drinking and binge drinking has
to be considered as an essential and preventable co-factor within
the multifactorial etiology of congenital heart defects.
SOURCE: Klin Padiatr 1992 Sep-Oct;204(5):335-9
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