by Tharien van Eck, AWC Antwerp and Health Team Co-Chair
A novel syndrome associated with prenatal fentanyl exposure was highlighted in a 2023 article published in Genetics Medicine Open. This study identified various abnormalities in affected infants, including short stature, microcephaly, distinctive facial features, and other congenital anomalies. The article even includes images of the babies’ faces and feet.
Despite extensive research, no common genetic or genomic abnormalities were identified among the infants. Biochemical analyses revealed issues in cholesterol metabolism; however, these abnormalities resolved over time, ruling out Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome. Notably, certain psychotropic medications – such as aripiprazole, haloperidol, and trazodone – are known to inhibit cholesterol metabolism at a critical enzymatic step.
The research team delved deeper and discovered that prenatal fentanyl use was a common factor in the affected pregnancies, suggesting it could be a potential causative agent. This finding underscores the need for further research to determine the prevalence of this new cluster of symptoms and its long-term impact on the health of these infants.
Additionally, an article from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, titled “UNMC Leads National Research Team to Explore Newly Discovered Syndrome,” published on June 27, 2024, offers insights into this emerging syndrome. Dr. Karoly Mirnics, one of the study authors and director of the Munroe-Meyer Institute, emphasized that susceptibility to the adverse effects of medications or chemicals can vary significantly among individuals. He noted, “The potentially adverse effects of any medication or chemical compound might depend on your genes, lifestyle, and environmental factors. One drug might not cause problems for me and might be catastrophic for you.”
Further studies are essential to fully understand the implications of these findings.
The links in the sources list provide more detailed information.
Sources:
- A novel syndrome associated with prenatal fentanyl exposure | ScienceDirect
- Fentanyl misuse during pregnancy can cause severe birth defects | NBC News
- UNMC leads national research team to explore newly discovered syndrome | University of Nebraska Medical Center
- New Syndrome May Be Affecting Babies Exposed to Fentanyl | US News
- Smith–Lemli–Opitz syndrome | Wikipedia
- Innocent Faces of Fentanyl: Opioid Use Linked to Distinct Birth Anomalies | Neuroscience News
Image from Canva.com