A group of babies born with multiple congenital malformations could be evidence of a new syndrome linked to fentanyl exposure while in the womb.
In a new report, health care professionals from across the U.S. discovered a group of 10 infants, all born to mothers who had used fentanyl while pregnant, were each born with an abnormally small head, short body and distinctively malformed features, like a cleft palate or fused toes.
None of the infants had a shared genetic cause for the abnormalities, which led the researchers to believe the shared factor of prenatal fentanyl use was the root cause.
"In light of the ongoing fentanyl use epidemic, public health impact of the novel syndrome associated with prenatal fentanyl exposure is likely to be significant," the authors wrote in the report, published in Genetics in Medicine Open. "Prenatal fentanyl exposure should be inquired about in patients with suggestive findings."
The research initially began with six infants from Delaware's Nemours Children's Hospital, all identified and enrolled in the study due to their distinctive facial features. Later, four more similar cases from outside clinicians were added to the report but not enrolled.
In each case, the babies born after their drug-affected pregnancies, particularly involving fentanyl, were initially suspected to have SLOS, or Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome. This is a congenital abnormality syndrome caused by a cholesterol metabolism issue, which can lead to similar malformations as the 10 babies.
But none of the babies were found to have SLOS or any other syndrome associated with their features — which also included abnormal thumb shape, genital irregularities and feeding issues. This prompted doctors to suspect fentanyl was causing an interference with cholesterol metabolism, leading to similar abnormalities as SLOS.
"Although fentanyl's effect on cholesterol metabolism has not been directly tested, based on indirect evidence it is biologically plausible that it affects cholesterol metabolism in the developing fetus," the authors wrote in the report.
The researchers say further evidence is needed to confirm fentanyl did in fact cause the shared abnormalities, as many newborns born after any kind of substance abuse-involved pregnancy can have complications.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com
Watoto wanaozaliwa na kasoro nyingi za kuzaliwa wanaweza kuwa ushahidi wa ugonjwa mpya unaohusiana na mfiduo wa fentanyl wakati wa tumbo la mama. Wataalamu wa afya nchini Marekani wamegundua kuwa watoto 10 waliozaliwa na mama waliotumia fentanyl wakati wa ujauzito, wana kichwa kidogo sana, mwili mfupi na sifa za kutofautisha kama vile kiwiko cha mdomo au vidole vya miguu vilivyounganishwa. Hakuna mtoto aliyekuwa na sababu ya kawaida ya kuambukizwa kwa sababu ya matumizi ya fentanyl kabla ya kuzaliwa. "Kwa kuzingatia janga la matumizi ya fentanyl, athari za afya ya umma za ugonjwa mpya unaohusishwa na mfiduo wa fentanyl kabla ya kuzaliwa inaweza kuwa kubwa, ""waandishi waliandika katika ripoti hiyo, iliyochapishwa katika Genetics in Medicine Open." "Uchunguzi wa fentanyl kabla ya kuzaliwa unapaswa kuulizwa kuhusu wagonjwa walio na matokeo yenye kuashiria". Utafiti huo ulianza na watoto sita kutoka Hospitali ya Watoto ya Nemours ya Delaware, wote waliotambuliwa na kuandikishwa katika utafiti huo kwa sababu ya sifa zao za kipekee za uso. Baadaye, visa vingine vinne kama hivyo vilivyotokana na madaktari wa nje viliongezwa kwenye ripoti hiyo lakini havikuingizwa. Watoto waliozaliwa baada ya mimba ya dawa za kulevya, hasa fentanyl, walihusika na ugonjwa wa SLS (Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome). Hii ni ugonjwa wa kuzaliwa na usio wa kawaida unaosababishwa na tatizo la kimetaboliki la cholesterol, ambayo inaweza kusababisha kasoro kama hizo za watoto kumi. Lakini hakuna mtoto aliyepatikana na ugonjwa wa SLO au ugonjwa mwingine wowote unaohusiana na sifa zao ambazo pia zilijumuisha umbo lisilo la kawaida la kidole gumba, kasoro za viungo vya uzazi na matatizo ya kulisha. Hii ilisababisha madaktari kugundua kwamba fentanyl ilisababisha kuingiliana na kimetaboliki ya cholesterol, na kusababisha kasoro sawa na SLOS. "Hata ingawa athari ya fentanyl kwenye kimetaboliki ya kolesteroli haijajaribiwa moja kwa moja, kulingana na ushahidi wa moja kwa moja ni ya kibiolojia inayowezekana kwamba huathiri kimetaboliki ya kolesteroli katika kijusi kinachoendelea", waandishi waliandika katika ripoti hiyo. Watafiti wanasema ushahidi zaidi unahitajika kuthibitisha kwamba fentanyl kwa kweli ilisababisha kasoro hizo, kwani watoto wengi waliozaliwa baada ya mimba yoyote ya matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kulevya inaweza kuwa na matatizo. Habari za kuvutia kwenye ScrippsNews