Fetal retinoid syndrome is a characteristic pattern of physical
birth defects in a baby that has been exposed to retinoids during pregnancy. The best-known retinoid is
isotretinoin (Accutane), a drug used to treat severe cystic acne.
[1]
Babies exposed to retinoids during pregnancy may have a wide variety of symptoms. Some may have no symptoms at all, others may have only intellectual and learning problems, while others will have very severe symptoms.
[1][2]
Birth defects associated with retinoid exposure include:
•
Growth delay
•
Excess fluid around the brain (
hydrocephalus)
•
Abnormally small head size (
microcephaly)
•
Intellectual and learning disabilities
•
Ear and eye abnormalities
•
A split in the roof of the mouth (
cleft palate) and other facial differences
•
Heart defects.
It is thought that 20-35% of fetuses exposed to retinoids during pregnancy will develop some of these birth defects.
Retinoids can cause these birth defects in the early weeks of pregnancy, even before a woman knows that she is pregnant.
[2] Some of the birth defects associated with
fetal retinoid syndrome may be diagnosed by
ultrasound during pregnancy.
[3]
No treatment exists for fetal retinoid syndrome. Babies born with this condition are treated based on their symptoms. Currently, public health programs exist to help reduce the chance that a woman will use retinoids if she is considering getting pregnant.
[4]
Last updated: 1/31/2019
