Overview
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), also known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in its broadest classification, is a condition caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. It is not an inherited genetic disorder but rather a teratogenic condition resulting from maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. FAS represents the most severe end of the fetal alcohol spectrum and is characterized by a distinctive pattern of facial abnormalities, growth deficiency, and central nervous system dysfunction. The hallmark facial features of FAS include short palpebral fissures (small eye openings), a smooth philtrum (the groove between the nose and upper lip), and a thin upper lip (vermilion border). Growth restriction is typically present both prenatally and postnatally, with affected individuals often falling below the 10th percentile for height and weight. Central nervous system involvement is the most debilitating aspect of the condition and may manifest as microcephaly, intellectual disability, learning difficulties, poor coordination, behavioral problems, and deficits in attention, memory, and executive functioning. Additional features can include cardiac defects (particularly septal defects), skeletal anomalies, renal malformations, hearing and vision problems, and immune dysfunction. There is no cure for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and the structural and neurological damage caused by prenatal alcohol exposure is largely irreversible. Management is supportive and multidisciplinary, involving early intervention programs, special education services, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, and psychosocial support. Medications may be used to manage specific symptoms such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, or depression. Prevention through abstinence from alcohol during pregnancy remains the most effective strategy. Early diagnosis and intervention are associated with improved outcomes.
Also known as:
Clinical phenotype terms— hover any for plain English:
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Neonatal
Begins at or shortly after birth (first 4 weeks)
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsUniversity of Rochester — NA
Rasool Hamidi Choolabi — NA
University of Utah — NA
University of Alabama at Birmingham — NA
Assaf-Harofeh Medical Center — NA
Emory University — NA
Baylor College of Medicine — PHASE1
Stanford University — PHASE1
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Fetal alcohol syndrome.
11 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Fetal alcohol syndrome.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Fetal alcohol syndrome.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Fetal alcohol syndrome
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Growth Hormone Replacement in Veterans With GWI and AGHD (GWIT)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: GWICTIC: NAC Mechanistic Study in Gulf War Veterans
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: Fatty Acid Synthase Inhibition in Castration Refractory Prostate Cancer
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation and Brain Imaging for Gulf War Syndrome
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: Coenzyme Q10 for Gulf War Illness: A Replication Study
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: Study of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: Culturally Adapted i-CBT for Farsi/Dari Speaking Migrants
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: 4-STEP-Training Program for Social Media Addiction (4-STEP-TPS) Among Young Adults
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: Clinical Evaluation of Montelukast in Veterans With Gulf War Illness
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
New recruiting trial: Study of the ITK Inhibitor Soquelitinib to Reduce Lymphoproliferation and Improve Cytopenias in Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS)-FAS Patients
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Fetal alcohol syndrome
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
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Mental Health Support
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Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Common questions about Fetal alcohol syndrome
What is Fetal alcohol syndrome?
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), also known as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in its broadest classification, is a condition caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol. It is not an inherited genetic disorder but rather a teratogenic condition resulting from maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. FAS represents the most severe end of the fetal alcohol spectrum and is characterized by a distinctive pattern of facial abnormalities, growth deficiency, and central nervous system dysfunction. The hallmark facial features of FAS include short palpebral fissures (small eye openings), a smoo
How is Fetal alcohol syndrome inherited?
Fetal alcohol syndrome follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
At what age does Fetal alcohol syndrome typically begin?
Typical onset of Fetal alcohol syndrome is neonatal. Age of onset can vary across affected individuals.
Are there clinical trials for Fetal alcohol syndrome?
Yes — 11 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Fetal alcohol syndrome on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Fetal alcohol syndrome?
25 specialists and care centers treating Fetal alcohol syndrome are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.