Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is observed in infants delivered to women who consume large amounts of alcohol in pregnancy. Prenatal alcohol exposure has also been related to developmental deficits and other alcohol related birth defects in the absence of the full syndrome. It has been suggested that fetal alcohol effects may account for a significant portion of previously unexplained neurobehavioral developmental deficits; nevertheless, the few prospective studies reported do not provide sufficient support for this highly important statement. Whether the exposure is frequent, or acute, as in binge drinking episodes, is another major question. This proposal provides a unique opportunity to obtain answers to these questions. Included is the final, and probably the most important, assessment of a cohort of 359 children for whom we have extensive data, carefully collected, starting with the first maternal antenatal visit. Of these, 176 were delivered to women with a history of alcohol abuse and 183 to matched controls. Detailed records of antenatal alcohol use and other relevant pregnancy conditions constitute an important part of the database. Developmental outcome measures were collected at birth and at ages six months, one year, and two years. Data collection at age three years is now underway. Home examinations by trained examiners have enabled us to retain 77% of the original sample. An examination at age four years, nine months, is scheduled to assess persistence of effects into the preschool period. The evaluations include measures of growth, intelligence, communication skills, psychomotor skills, behavior ratings and reaction time. Relevant covariate data have been collected for entry into the analyses. The possibility of interactive influences of home stimulation and excessive parental alcohol use during the caretaking years is being appraised. Data analysis plans are illustrated by results demonstrating a strong significant association of neonatal anomalies and first trimester drinking, for infants delivered to women with histories of alcohol abuse.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01AA006571-04A2
Application #
3109731
Study Section
(SRC)
Project Start
1985-08-01
Project End
1987-07-31
Budget Start
1985-08-01
Budget End
1986-07-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Case Western Reserve University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
Cleveland
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
44106
Nelson, S; Greene, T; Ernhart, C B (1996) Toxocara canis infection in preschool age children: risk factors and the cognitive development of preschool children. Neurotoxicol Teratol 18:167-74
Ernhart, C B; Greene, T; Sokol, R J et al. (1995) Neonatal diagnosis of fetal alcohol syndrome: not necessarily a hopeless prognosis. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 19:1550-7
Greene, T; Ernhart, C B (1993) Dentine lead and intelligence prior to school entry: a statistical sensitivity analysis. J Clin Epidemiol 46:323-39
Greene, T; Ernhart, C B; Boyd, T A (1992) Contributions of risk factors to elevated blood and dentine lead levels in preschool children. Sci Total Environ 115:239-60
Ager, J W (1992) Discussion: statistical analysis in treatment and prevention program evaluation. NIDA Res Monogr 117:31-40
Sokol, R J; Ager, J W; Martier, S S (1992) Methodological issues in obtaining and managing substance abuse information from prenatal patients. NIDA Res Monogr 117:80-97
Greene, T; Ernhart, C B (1991) Prenatal and preschool age lead exposure: relationship with size. Neurotoxicol Teratol 13:417-27
Greene, T; Ernhart, C B; Ager, J et al. (1991) Prenatal alcohol exposure and cognitive development in the preschool years. Neurotoxicol Teratol 13:57-68
Boyd, T A; Ernhart, C B; Greene, T H et al. (1991) Prenatal alcohol exposure and sustained attention in the preschool years. Neurotoxicol Teratol 13:49-55
Greene, T; Ernhart, C B (1991) Adjustment for cofactors in pediatric research. J Dev Behav Pediatr 12:378-85

Showing the most recent 10 out of 26 publications