thalidomide embryopathy

Thalidomide embryopathy refers to a syndrome resulting from in utero exposure to thalidomide, and is characterized by multiple fetal anomalies. Fetal exposure to thalidomide occurred primarily from 1957 to 1961, when it was used as a treatment for nausea in pregnant women.

Epidemiology 

Exposure to thalidomide in the first trimester carries a 10-50% risk of embryopathy. Over 10,000 children with severe birth defects due to thalidomide exposure were born between 1957 and 1961 worldwide.

Clinical presentation

Thalidomide exposure notably affects limb development, but can affect a wide range of systems. These include:

• limb abnormalities
  • phocomelia
  • amelia
  • clubfeet
  • polydactyly
  • radial ray anomalies
• facial abnormalities 
  • microtia
  • congenital facial palsy
  • abnormal lacrimation
  • orofacial clefts
  • microphthalmia
• congenital cardiac anomalies
  • ventricular septal defects
  • atrial septal defects
  • conotruncal defects
• growth
  • intrauterine growth restriction

Differential diagnosis

• Roberts syndrome (pseudothalidomide syndrome)

Siehe auch:

• Polydaktylie
• Atriumseptumdefekt
• Roberts-Syndrom
• Mikrophthalmus
• Klumpfuß
• Intrauterine Wachstumsretardierung
• Amelie (Medizin)
• phocomelia
• Dysmelie
• Ventrikelseptumdefekt
• Thalidomide
• Ohrmuschelfehlbildung
• orofaziale Spalten
• Radialstrahldefekte

und weiter:

• dreigliedriger Daumen
• seal limb anomaly
• Zahnverschmelzung
• Agenesie der Appendix vermiformis