[The course of alcoholic embryopathy].

Pediatric examinations were performed in 71 children with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). A subgroup of these patients underwent neurological and psychiatric assessment and psychological testing. Psychopathology was also studied in a matched control group. After a period of 3-4 years various subgroups of these children were re-examined. Follow-up examinations revealed that with increasing age dysmorphic signs became less apparent in children with FAS. Furthermore, neurologic performance improved and EEG-recordings revealed less pathological patterns. These positive findings were confirmed by the observation that these patients also experienced an improvement with regard to psychiatric status and cognitive functions. But it must be stated that the affected children did not become normal in all psychiatric areas. Hyperactivity and distractability seem to be the major handicaps for a normal school career of these children.