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A study was performed in Uruguay to estimate the prevalence of drug consumption during pregnancy. The study consisted of a survey and biological samples to validate the responses and investigate information concerning risks involved in drug consumption during pregnancy. The survey consisted of 900 face-to-face interviews performed within 48 hours after birth. Perinatal registries were taken from hospital archives. Nine hundred meconium samples were tested for alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, and tranquilizers. The results of the survey indicated consumption during pregnancy of the following: 41.3% tobacco, 36.8% alcohol, 16.3% tranquilizers, 68% caffeine (more than 400 mg/day), and 1.4% illegal drugs. In addition, 8.9% of the pregnancies were unplanned. Among the planned pregnancies, some physicians warned their patients about risks associated with tobacco (34%), alcohol (27%) and illegal drugs (7%). Meconium analysis revealed tobacco (cotinine), 51.8%; alcohol (fatty acid ethyl esters, or FAEES), 43.5%; and cocaine (base paste), 2.5%. Newborns whose mothers smoked tobacco presented statistically lower birth weights: 11% of all newborns at low birth weight, with health problems reported for 14.8%.

Trastornos del espectro alcohólico fetal. Biomarcadores del consumo... / Suárez H.A., Rivolta S. Abstract:Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is associated with a wide range of adverse effects known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Through the measurement of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters (FAEEs) in meconium, as biomarkers of prenatal alcohol exposure, we have a very important tool in the screening of newborns, facilitating the confi rmation of diagnosis and adequate clinical intervention in individuals affected by this problem with improvements in life quality and expectancy. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) represents the classic syndrome and the most serious condition is caused by repetitive alcohol consumption during pregnancy. Due to the heterogeneous characteristics of clinical alterations of newborns exposed to ethanol, most of which are not specifi c, diagnosis of FASDs is extremely diffi cult.Key words: FAS, meconium, FAEEs.Resumo:

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