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Effect of prenatal marijuana exposure on sleep wake cycles and amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG)

Journal of Perinatology volume 41, pages 1355–1363 (2021)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective

To assess whether prenatal exposure to marijuana (THC) results in abnormal amplitude integrated encephalograms (aEEG).

Design

This was a (2018–2020) prospective cohort study of prenatally THC-exposed newborns. Maternal and Infant demographics, urine (UDS) and umbilical cord drug screening (UCDS) were recorded. A limited channel continuous aEEG was obtained within 48 h of birth. Statistical analysis included univariate, multivariate, and logistical regression.

Results

A total of 30 mother/infant dyads were enrolled. 60% (18/30) of neonates had abnormal aEEGs with sleep wake cycle (SWC) disturbances (p < 0.001). UCDS Carboxy-THC pg/g levels were similar in infants with abnormal [1758 (296,2838)] and normal aEEG [1589 (332,2794)], p = 0.82.

Conclusions

Absence of SWCs on aEEG is associated with prenatal THC exposure. While THC UCDS levels did not correlate to aEEG results future longitudinal studies are necessary to obtain detailed history of THC use and to evaluate its association with abnormal aEEG and the neurodevelopmental outcomes.

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Fig. 1: Normal aEEG tracings.
Fig. 2: Abnormal aEEG tracings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA

    Rebecca Pollack, Divya Rana, John Purvis, Leann Pollard & Massrour Pourcyrous

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  1. Rebecca Pollack
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Correspondence to Rebecca Pollack.

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Pollack, R., Rana, D., Purvis, J. et al. Effect of prenatal marijuana exposure on sleep wake cycles and amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG). J Perinatol 41, 1355–1363 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-020-00911-9

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