Abstract
Specific fetal dysmorphology associated with maternal cocaine use has not as yet been documented. In the first 23 pregnancies evaluated in our program for chemically dependent women, one infant with prune-belly syndrome and one infant with hypospadius were delivered to cocaine-using women. Subsequently, all infants delivered in our program have received a renal ultrasound at 2 to 3 days of life. Twenty-five infants born to polydrug (non-cocaine)-using women (Group 1) and 25 born to cocaine-using women (Group II) have been evaluated thus far. The two groups are similar for maternal age, gravidity and race. All Group I women used marijuana and/or alcohol, and 5 women were additionally addicted to narcotics. All Group 11 women were cocaine users; 15 used alcohol and/or marijuana in addition. Mean birth weight of the two groups was similar. No infant in Group I had observable malformations except one infant with fetal alcohol syndrome, and all ultrasounds were normal. In Group II, two infants had a similar cluster of abnormalities: hydronephrosis, unilateral claw hand deformity and genital abnormalities (a female with ambiguous genitalia and absent uterus and a male with hypospadius and chordee of the penis with undescended testes). Renal ultrasound examination revealed 4 cocaine-exposed infants in Group II with hydronephrosis, one of whom had a 2° hypospadius. From this preliminary study, it appears that infants delivered to cocaine-using mothers should be evaluated for abnormalities of the genitourinary tract.
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Chasnoff, I., Chisum, G. GENITOURINARY TRACT DYSMORPHOLOGY AND MATERNAL COCAINE USE. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 225 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00354
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00354