BINGE DRINKING IN PREGNANCY – LATE INTRAUTERINE DEATH: A CASE REPORT

Thursday, 24 November, 2022 - 09:00 to 19:30

Abstract

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is known to cause birth defects. Binge-like drinking patterns with a high blood alcohol concentration are particularly harmful to fetal brain development. We present a case of a full-term fetus death due to binge drinking. Case report: the pregnancy outcome of the 40-year-old woman with a 20-year history of alcohol addiction – binge drinking.

One month prior to pregnancy she was hospitalised twice due to alcohol intoxication with blood ethanol concentrations being 5.4 g/L and 5.12 g/L. While being pregnant she was admitted to the hospital 4 times. The ethanol concentrations were 2.96 g/L on the 6th pregnancy week, 3.87 g/L – on the 8th week, 5.32g/L – on the 16th week – during this admission the patient presented with seizures, 4.85g/L – on the 32d pregnancy week. During the pregnancy, she had been followed up by a gynaecologist. From the 28th pregnancy week, fetal growth retardation and a single umbilical artery were detected, while other anthropometric measurements were within normal ranges until birth. The mother was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes and anaemia. Because of the advanced maternal age, amniocentesis was performed on the 28th week of pregnancy, which resulted normal. The patient delivered a stillborn on the 37th week at home. The autopsy revealed body hypotrophy, macerated skin with multiple blisters, patent ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale. The histology of liver revealed multiple vacuoles in hepatocytes. The foetus’s blood ethanol concentration was 2.76 g/L. The determined cause of intrauterine death was the toxic ethanol effect within 24 hours before birth.

In the described case no other aetiology except maternal alcohol abuse was found for the fetal growth retardation and late intrauterine death. Although the stillborn had not presented any major birth defects, there would be a very high risk for the alcohol related neurodevelopmental disorders.

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