TY - JOUR T1 - Determining the pattern and prevalence of alcohol consumption in pregnancy by measuring biomarkers in meconium JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO - Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed DO - 10.1136/archdischild-2016-311686 SP - fetalneonatal-2016-311686 AU - Carolyn Abernethy AU - Karen E McCall AU - Gail Cooper AU - Donata Favretto AU - Fabio Vaiano AU - Elisabetta Bertol AU - Helen Mactier Y1 - 2017/07/04 UR - http://fn.bmj.com/content/early/2017/07/04/archdischild-2016-311686.abstract N2 - Objective To investigate the feasibility of determining the pattern and prevalence of alcohol consumption in pregnancy by measuring ethanol biomarkers in meconium.Design Population-based observational study.Setting Inner-city maternity unit in Scotland, UK.Population Random sample of singleton infants delivered after 36 completed weeks’ gestation.Methods Fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) and ethyl glucuronide (EtG) in meconium were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Samples were frozen at −20°C before analysis. Results were compared anonymously with demographic data including maternal age, parity, smoking, ethnicity and postcode and with infant gestation, birth weight and head circumference. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects.Results 235 samples of meconium were analysed (70% of eligible babies). Only four (1%) of mothers declined to participate. FAAEs were detected in all, including four samples below the limit of quantification (10 ng/g). 98 (42%) samples had FAEE concentrations >600 ng/g. EtG was detectable in 93 (40%) samples; in 35 (15%) EtG concentration was >30 ng/g. No mother reported heavy alcohol consumption in pregnancy. FAAE concentration correlated with EtG (Pearson’s coefficient; p<0.001). There was no association between either biomarker and maternal age, parity, smoking, ethnicity or postcode, or infant gestation, birth weight or head circumference.Conclusion Measurement of ethanol biomarkers in meconium is a feasible tool for determining the pattern and prevalence of alcohol consumption in pregnancy. Data suggest that at least 15% of pregnant women in the west of Scotland are consuming significant quantities of alcohol during latter pregnancy. ER -