BACKGROUND: Prenatal exposure to ethanol can produce a complex set of effects on fetal development, which is denominated fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Early detection of ethanol exposure can allow the prevention of some relevant adverse effects associated to FASD. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to review the main toxic effects of ethanol on the neonate and the available biomarkers of prenatal alcohol exposure. METHODS: A bibliographic search was performed in PubMed employing the terms "effects maternal ethanol exposure" and "biomarkers ethanol prenatal exposure" and cross references. RESULTS: Many adverse effects on fetal development were described, especially deficits in the central nervous system. The biomarkers of ethanol exposure more widely described were fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), ethyl glucuronide (EtG) and ethyl sulphate (EtS), being meconium and hair the most common biological matrices for laboratorial evaluation. DISCUSSION: The early detection of alcohol exposure in intra-uterine life is useful to prevent the secondary effects of FASD through pharmacologic and educational intervention in affected children.
Prenatal ethanol exposure; fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; ethanol exposure biomarkers
