A recent study has suggested a potential link between prenatal fentanyl exposure and severe birth defects in newborns. The study, led by Nemours Children's Health in Wilmington, Delaware, found that infants exposed to fentanyl in utero exhibited similar physical abnormalities. These included cleft palates, small body and head size, drooping eyelids, and webbed toes. Genetic causes were ruled out, leading researchers to consider the influence of fentanyl on these outcomes.
The study's findings have raised concerns about the impact of fentanyl on public health, with over 70,000 overdose deaths suspected in 2021. The infants involved in the study shared several similar characteristics, but no similar gene sequences were found to link the issues to an inherited or genetic association. This has led to the suggestion that these characteristics may be part of a fentanyl-related syndrome.
At least 10 babies, and possibly more, have been identified as having these physical defects. The mothers of these babies admitted to using street drugs, including fentanyl, during pregnancy. The babies' physical similarities resemble a syndrome called Smith-Lemli-Opitz, which affects how fetuses process cholesterol. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the full implications of prenatal fentanyl exposure.
The discovery of this potential syndrome came when a genetic counselor noticed similarities among several patients. While the cause is still being investigated, researchers believe that fentanyl may be disrupting cholesterol metabolism in the developing fetus, leading to these physical abnormalities. However, the authors acknowledge the challenges in proving causality when it comes to substances known as teratogens, which can lead to fetal abnormalities.