Increased cerebral blood flow velocity in infants of mothers who abuse cocaine
van de Bor, M.; Walther, F.J.; Sims, M.E.
Pediatrics 85(5): 733-736
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0031-4005 PMID: 2184408 Document Number: 351478
The pharmacologic effects of cocaine are considered to be secondary to an enhancement of the effects of circulating catecholamines. The effect of intrauterine cocaine exposure on the cerebral blood flow velocity was studied in 20 full-term newborn infants whose urine screens were positive for cocaine and in 18 nonexposed healthy full-term newborn infants whose urine screens were negative for cocaine metabolites. On the first day of life, peak systolic, end diastolic, and mean flow velocities in the pericallosal, internal carotid, and basilar arteries and mean arterial blood pressures were significantly greater in infants who had been exposed to cocaine. On day 2, cerebral blood flow velocities and mean arterial blood pressures were simialr in exposed and nonexposed infants. The increase in mean arterial blood pressure and in cerebral blood flow velocity on the first day of life indicates a hemodynamic effect of cocaine that may put the infent exposed to cocaine at a greater risk of intracranial hemorrhage.