THE FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME IN ADOLESCENCE

At present, alcohol is recognized as the leading teratogenic agent in long-lasting CNS dysfunction. Little is known about the long-term deve lopment and outcome of children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). For ty-four FAS patients who were diagnosed in early childhood were follow ed up for 10-14 years. This study documents the developmental changes of the manifestations of FAS from childhood to adolescence and describ es a characteristic ''juvenile'' pattern of FAS, which may help to ide ntify this syndrome even in adolescence. This is especially relevant f or patients who were not diagnosed earlier.