Cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, and metabolite plasma concentrations in neonates

J Anal Toxicol. 1998 May-Jun;22(3):220-4. doi: 10.1093/jat/22.3.220.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure the umbilical cord plasma levels of cocaine, nicotine, caffeine, and their metabolites. Thirty-six neonates at risk for prenatal cocaine exposure were prospectively enrolled. Umbilical cord plasma was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy for cocaine, cocaethylene, benzoylecgonine (BZE), nicotine, cotinine, and caffeine. Eighteen neonates were plasma positive for BZE, and 50% of these were also positive for cocaine. Cocaethylene was not found. The maximum plasma cocaine concentration was 88 ng/mL (mean, 39 ng/mL). The maximum plasma BZE concentration was 3880 ng/mL (mean, 844 ng/mL). Among BZE-positive babies, the mean plasma drug levels were as follows: nicotine, 1.8 ng/mL; cotinine, 94 ng/mL; and caffeine, 1205 ng/mL. Among the BZE-negative babies, the mean plasma drug levels were as follows: nicotine, 5.2 ng/mL; cotinine, 97 ng/mL; and caffeine, 1440 ng/mL. These cocaine levels raise the possibility of pharmacological effects of cocaine in the early neonatal period.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Caffeine / blood*
  • Caffeine / urine
  • Cocaine / analogs & derivatives
  • Cocaine / blood*
  • Cocaine / urine
  • Cotinine / blood
  • Cotinine / urine
  • Fetal Blood*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Nicotine / blood*
  • Nicotine / urine
  • Prospective Studies
  • San Francisco
  • Substance Abuse Detection / methods

Substances

  • Caffeine
  • benzoylecgonine
  • Nicotine
  • cocaethylene
  • Cocaine
  • Cotinine