Vascular Effects of Maternal Alcohol Consumption

What are the effects of drinking alcohol during pregnancy on the mother’s cardiovascular system? The simple answer is that we are still trying to find out. Research has long focused on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, but little research has been done on the effects of both acute and chronic alcohol consumption on the maternal circulation that might contribute to pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes and to long term effects on the offspring. For a review of this emerging field, listen to our latest podcast as Associate Editor Nancy Kanagy interviews lead author Jayanth Ramadoss (University of Texas Medical Branch) and expert William Mayhan (LSU Health Sciences Center) about the recent review by Ramadoss and Magness.

Jayanth Ramadoss and Ronald R. Magness Vascular effects of maternal alcohol consumption Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, published online June 22, 2012, doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00127.2012.