Estimation of Prenatal Alcohol Exposure: Comparison of Retrospective Survey and Measurement of Fatty Acid Ethyl Esters, Ethyl Sulfate, and Ethyl Glucuronide Concentrations in Neonatal Meconium.

ABSTRACT: Determining the concentration of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs), ethyl sulfate (EtS), and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is crucial for establishing the true scale of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and enabling early diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. This study primarily aimed to compare two detection methods: retrospective maternal alcohol consumption surveys and chromatographic analysis of newborn meconium. Among 478 mothers, parallel survey data and meconium samples were collected. Nine FAEEs were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and EtG and EtS by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The study also aimed to establish marker cut-offs and evaluate their clinical utility. While only 4% (approximately) of mothers reported alcohol consumption during pregn

SUBMITTER: Wiergowski M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12944540 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature