Screening, Diagnosing and Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Is This Syndrome Treatable

Abstract

Prenatal alcohol exposure can lead to a wide range of adverse effects on a developing fetus. As a whole, these teratogenic outcomes are generally known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, the most severe of which is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Clinically, children diagnosed with FAS vary greatly in their presentation of symptoms, likely due to the amount of alcohol and timing of exposure, as well as maternal and genetic influences. All these factors play a role in determining the mechanisms through which alcohol damages a developing brain, the details of which are still largely unknown. However, continuing research and recent developments have provided promising results that may lead to screening mechanisms and treatment therapies for children with FAS. Here we review the teratogenic effects of alcohol, strategies for detecting maternal alcohol consumption, identification of fetal biological markers, and prevention methods for FAS.

Alcohol and Its Effect on Fetal Development: What Do We Know?

“…Since alcohol produces free oxygen species (e.g., hydrogen peroxide, superoxide and hydroxyl anions) within these cells, their lack of an effective coping mechanism results in a range of adverse effects from impaired migration to cell death. This explains a common phenotype found in FASD patients -facial deformities -given that NC cells make up the majority of facial bones [4].…”

“…Advances in FASD basic research have been the subject of three recent reviews [4][5][6], each of which provides a unique perspective. They not only delineate the development of distinct categories of FASD research, they also provide details explaining the effects of alcohol during development on cell migration, apoptosis, cell growth and differentiation, cell adhesion molecules, epigenetics and miRNA expression [4][5][6].…”

“…They not only delineate the development of distinct categories of FASD research, they also provide details explaining the effects of alcohol during development on cell migration, apoptosis, cell growth and differentiation, cell adhesion molecules, epigenetics and miRNA expression [4][5][6]. The most current research has advanced the field tremendously by uncovering fetal biological markers via DNA arrays and real-time RT-PCR [7,8].…”

“…The most current research has advanced the field tremendously by uncovering fetal biological markers via DNA arrays and real-time RT-PCR [7,8]. The reports described by Ismail et al [4], disclosing cutting-edge investigations into the effects of ethanol on miRNAs expression and those describing epigenetics [5,6] are some of the most intriguing. In essence, they reveal exciting new avenues of exploration into the underlying biological mechanisms of FASD.…”

“…Presently, there is no cure for FASD, but children who are diagnosed early and receive appropriate physical and educational interventions, especially those in a stable and nurturing home, are more likely to have better outcomes than those who are not [4]. There have been studies attempting to treat FASD in utero but these attempts are still at the basic research stage and will need extensive clinical data before they are deemed safe and efficacious for clinical use.…”