[Fetal alcohol syndrome].

Abstract

The author presents cases of dysmorphic children born to alcoholic mothers to illustrate his discussion of the "fetal alcohol syndrome". The fact that this malformative syndrome has not been recognized before 1968 is amazing, particularly if one considers the high frequency of alcohol addiction and the relative specificity of the birth defects making up the syndrome. Newborns from severely alcoholic mothers are small for date, microcephalic, and they have abnormal facial features, as well as an increased frequency of other malformations (heart, genitalia, extremities). Neurological and mental deficiencies are recognized early in most of these children. Central nervous system anomalies are beginning to be described by the neuropathologists, which correspond to these clinical findings.