Neonatal signs suggesting CNS/ANS involvement are reported with antenatal drug exposure. We estimated and compared the prevalence of CNS/ANS signs between neonates exposed (EXP) to C/O in utero and those non-exposed (NON). Infants (n=11,236) all gestational ages recruited from 4 MLS centers (Brown U, U Tenn Memphis, U Miami, Wayne State U) were assessed for 33 CNS/ANS signs upon enrollment by trained research staff, unaware of exposure status. Exposure was defined as positive for C/O by maternal history or GC/MS meconium analysis. Except for jitteriness, tremors and irritability, prevalence of each CNS/ANS sign was <5% whether EXP to C/O (n=1,172), cocaine (C) only(n=980), or NON (n=10,064). Shown in the table are prevalence of ANS/CNS signs and odds ratios for C/O to NON. (*p<.01, C only compared to NON) Although prevalence of above signs is increased in C/O EXP compared to NON infants, the low prevalence limits the clinical utility of neonatal CNS/ANS signs.

Table 1
Full size table