Prenatal alcohol exposure, CYP17 gene polymorphisms and fetal growth restriction

Objective: To determine the association of maternal CYP17 gene polymorphisms and prenatal alcohol consumption with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Study design: A case-control study in singleton livebirths was conducted at the Liverpool Women's Hospital between 2004 and 2005. Cases (n = 90) were mothers with an IUGR baby and controls (n = 180) those with a normal birthweight infant. Maternal genomic DNA was extracted from buccal smears and PCR (RFLP) was used for genotyping.

Results: Amongst cases, the prevalence of the maternal CYP17 homozygous wild type "AlA1", heterozygouts "AlA2" and homozygous "A2A2" variants was 36.7%, 47.7% and 15.6%, which did not differ significantly from their prevalence amongst controls (p = 0.6). The proportion with prenatal alcohol exposure was significantly higher in cases than controls (45.6% versus 30.6%, p = 0.01). Mean birthweight was significantly lower in mothers with the CYP17 A(AlA2/A2A2)1A1 genotype compared to those with variant genotypes (AlA2/A2A2) in both the alcohol-exposed (p = 0.03) and non-exposed groups (p = 0.01). In all women regardless of genotype, IUGR risk increased in mothers exposed to alcohol during pregnancy (OR, 2.9, 95% Cl; 1.8-4.2, p = 0.01). There was a significant interaction between the CYP17 AlA1 genotype and prenatal alcohol consumption for fetal growth restriction (adjusted OR, 1.4, 95 % CI; 1.1-1.9, p = 0.04).

Conclusion: The association between prenatal alcohol exposure and intrauterine fetal growth restriction was modulated by the maternal CYP17 AlAl genotype. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.