Multiple Systemic and Ocular Malformations Associated With Maternal LSD Usage
Archives of Ophthalmology – October 01, 1974
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
A boy born with severe malformations, including anencephaly and syndactyly, highlights potential risks of prenatal substance exposure. His mother ingested lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) before and during pregnancy. Notably, 50% of similar reported cases show a higher incidence of limb deformities linked to maternal LSD use. Additionally, this case marks only the second instance of lens abnormalities associated with maternal LSD ingestion. The findings underscore the importance of understanding the effects of drugs on fetal development during pregnancy.
Abstract
A boy was born with multiple malformations including anencephaly with ectopic placenta, absent left arm, cleft lip and palate, syndactyly, coloboma of the iris, cataract, and corneal opacity with vascularization. The mother had used lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) before and during pregnancy. The limb amputation deformities are the primary findings in this case. These changes are sufficiently specific to suggest a correlation with other reported cases in which a higher than expected incidence of such deformities are observed in infants following maternal ingestion of the drug. This is only the second recorded case of lens abnormalities associated with maternal LSD ingestion.