Differences in salivary cortisol levels in cocaine-exposed and noncocaine-exposed NICU infants.
To assess whether cocaine exposure in utero affected adrenocortical responsiveness in the neonatal period, salivary cortisol levels were compared between noncocaine-exposed (n = 35) and cocaine-exposed (n = 11) healthy preterm infants just prior to hospital discharge. Cortisol levels were measured under three conditions: Basal--120 min after no disrupting event or behavioral distress; Noninvasive Stressor--30 min after a neurobehavioral examination; Invasive Stressor--30 min after a heel-stick procedure. There were no differences in Basal cortisol levels between the noncocaine-exposed and cocaine-exposed infants, but the cocaine-exposed infants had significantly lower levels in both the Noninvasive and Invasive Stressor conditions. The suppressed cortisol responding to stressful events in cocaine-exposed infants suggests that these infants may have decreased modulation capability to normally stressful events, which could underlie some of the subtle state regulation problems reported.
Magnano
C L
CL
Biopsychology Program, City University of New York, New York.
Gardner
J M
JM
Karmel
B Z
BZ
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*
D003042:Cocaine; D006854:Hydrocortisone