Researchers have identified a potential new syndrome in babies born to mothers who used fentanyl during pregnancy, according to a study published in the journal Genetics in Medicine Open. The infants displayed distinctive facial features, small heads, short stature, and various physical abnormalities.

The study, conducted by a team of physicians at Nemours Children's Hospital in Delaware, began when several infants referred from local neonatal intensive care units exhibited similar facial features and multiple physical abnormalities. The researchers enrolled a total of ten patients in their study, including four infants from other institutions.

All of the infants demonstrated small heads, short stature, and distinct facial characteristics. Additionally, some infants had cleft palate, "rocker bottom" feet, malformed genital organs, short and broad thumbs, a single palmar crease, and fused toes.

Genetic testing ruled out known syndromes such as Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome. Instead, the common link among all the infants was maternal fentanyl use during pregnancy. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid known to cross the placenta and potentially cause birth defects.

The study's senior author, Dr. Karen W. Gripp, Chief of the Division of Medical Genetics at Nemours Children's Health, Delaware Valley, cautioned that further research is necessary to definitively determine whether fentanyl is the cause of these abnormalities or if other factors, such as contaminants or concurrent drug use, may play a role.

While the initial report focuses on the ten infants studied, Dr. Gripp noted that there have been anecdotal reports of additional similar cases and patients with milder characteristics. This suggests that the newly identified syndrome may exist on a spectrum.

Out of the ten patients in the study, six are continuing to receive care at Nemours, three are being followed by physicians in other states, and sadly, one patient has passed away. Dr. Gripp and her colleagues aim to identify more patients for further evaluation and care.

The emergence of this potential new syndrome raises concerns about the impact of fentanyl use during pregnancy amidst the ongoing fentanyl epidemic. Dr. Gripp compared it to the long-term consequences of fetal alcohol syndrome caused by prenatal alcohol exposure and emphasized the need to recognize and understand this condition in order to provide appropriate care for affected infants.

Further research, including laboratory experiments and additional studies, is required to definitively confirm the existence of this novel syndrome and explore its underlying mechanisms.

This study serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding the potential risks associated with opioid use during pregnancy and highlights the need for further investigation and intervention to address the potential long-term consequences for newborns.