Journal article
Authors list: Veit, Florian; Erdmann, Freidoon; Birngruber, Christoph; Dettmeyer, Reinhard
Publication year: 2017
Pages: 185-192
Journal: Romanian Journal of Legal Medicine
Volume number: 25
Issue number: 2
ISSN: 1221-8618
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.4323/rjlm.2017.185
Publisher: ROMANIAN LEGAL MED SOC
Objectives. The consumption of drugs during pregnancy or delivery leads to pre and intranatal drug exposure of the fetus. The purpose of this study was to examine paired blood samples of the mother and the umbilical cord regarding drug distribution. Methods. Over a period of two years, 22 pregnant women with known or admitted drug use were selected. Paired blood samples of the mothers and the umbilical cord blood were collected shortly before and during birth/caesarean section, respectively. The samples were subjected to systematic immunochemical, HPLC-DAD, GC/MS and LC-MS/MS analysis and compared regarding presence of drugs. Results. Methadone, THC-COOH, tramadol, benzoylecgonine, citalopram, carbamazepine, lamotrigine, perazine, methylphenidate, quetiapine, ranitidine and most constituents of spinal and epidural anaesthesia were found in both, maternal and umbilical cord blood samples. THC, 11-OH-THC, olanzapine, diphenhydramine and telmisartan were found in maternal blood only. Conclusions. As previously shown a variety of drugs is able to pass the placenta of pregnant woman. Umbilical cord blood appears to be a viable matrix for the detection of maternal drug consumption. Drugs administered during labour and birth could be detected in umbilical cord blood. Further studies with a greater collective of women with known drug use including analyses of fetal/infant samples will yield additional information in the future.
Abstract:
Citation Styles
Harvard Citation style: Veit, F., Erdmann, F., Birngruber, C. and Dettmeyer, R. (2017) Detection of drugs in paired maternal and umbilical cord blood samples, Romanian Journal of Legal Medicine, 25(2), pp. 185-192. https://doi.org/10.4323/rjlm.2017.185
APA Citation style: Veit, F., Erdmann, F., Birngruber, C., & Dettmeyer, R. (2017). Detection of drugs in paired maternal and umbilical cord blood samples. Romanian Journal of Legal Medicine. 25(2), 185-192. https://doi.org/10.4323/rjlm.2017.185
Keywords
BUPIVACAINE; COCAINE EXPOSURE; DIPHENHYDRAMINE; D-METHYLPHENIDATE; forensics; legal medicine; LIFE-STYLE; maternal drug abuse; METHADONE; PERINATAL OUTCOMES; placental transfer; PREGNANT-WOMEN; PRENATAL MARIJUANA EXPOSURE; umbilical cord
