What condition is associated with epoxide hydrolase deficiency during pregnancy?

What condition is associated with epoxide hydrolase deficiency during pregnancy?

• A. Fetal hydantoin syndrome
• B. Gestational diabetes
• C. Placental insufficiency
• D. Neonatal jaundice

Answer: (A)

Epoxide hydrolase deficiency is primarily linked to fetal hydantoin syndrome. This condition arises when there is exposure to antiepileptic medications, particularly phenytoin, during pregnancy. The metabolism of phenytoin involves the action of epoxide hydrolase, an enzyme that helps detoxify reactive epoxide metabolites. When there is a deficiency of this enzyme, the accumulation of reactive metabolites can lead to teratogenic effects, including growth deficiencies, craniofacial malformations, and digit abnormalities in the developing fetus, which are hallmark features of fetal hydantoin syndrome. In contrast, the other conditions listed, such as gestational diabetes, placental insufficiency, and neonatal jaundice, do not have a direct association with epoxide hydrolase deficiency. Gestational diabetes is primarily related to insulin resistance during pregnancy, placental insufficiency pertains to inadequate blood flow to the placenta, and neonatal jaundice is usually the result of various factors like hemolytic disease or metabolic disorders, rather than deficiencies in epoxide hydrolase.

Epoxide hydrolase deficiency is primarily linked to fetal hydantoin syndrome. This condition arises when there is exposure to antiepileptic medications, particularly phenytoin, during pregnancy. The metabolism of phenytoin involves the action of epoxide hydrolase, an enzyme that helps detoxify reactive epoxide metabolites. When there is a deficiency of this enzyme, the accumulation of reactive metabolites can lead to teratogenic effects, including growth deficiencies, craniofacial malformations, and digit abnormalities in the developing fetus, which are hallmark features of fetal hydantoin syndrome.

In contrast, the other conditions listed, such as gestational diabetes, placental insufficiency, and neonatal jaundice, do not have a direct association with epoxide hydrolase deficiency. Gestational diabetes is primarily related to insulin resistance during pregnancy, placental insufficiency pertains to inadequate blood flow to the placenta, and neonatal jaundice is usually the result of various factors like hemolytic disease or metabolic disorders, rather than deficiencies in epoxide hydrolase.