Definition:
Fetal hydantoin syndrome is an uncommon disorder that's caused by fetal exposure to an anticonvulsant medicine known as phenytoin or Dilantin. Dilantin is a drug commonly administered for treating epilepsy, and approximately one-third of the offspring of mothers who took the drug while pregnant developed minor limb and face defects. Some showed developmental delay, mental retardation, and growth problems.
Diagnosis:
Fetal hydantoin syndrome is diagnosed through physical examination and history. If a doctor suspects the syndrome, other tests may also be done to confirm diagnosis.
Treatment:
The safe usage of phenytoin during pregnancy hasn't been established, and so avoiding the intake of the medication while pregnant is highly significant. No standard treatment has been found for the syndrome, and treatment will vary depending on severity and type of symptoms.
Symptoms and Signs:
Some of the most common symptoms of the syndrome include skull abnormalities, facial feature anomalies, mental deficiency, growth deficiency, metopic ridging, widely spread eyes, and wide anterior fontanel. Less common manifestations of the syndrome include small head, coloboma, brachycephaly, strabismus, and positional foot deformities.
Causes:
The main cause of the syndrome is phenytoin exposure of the fetus. The exposure to this drug leads to fetal abnormalities, particularly the skull and facial features.
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