title: Tissue distribution of cocaine in a pregnant woman.
abstract: Reports of cocaine-related obstetrical problems, including abruptio placentae and spontaneous abortion, have become increasingly evident in the medical literature; however, little is known about tissue distribution of cocaine in the pregnant woman. We report the toxicologic results of distribution studies performed on a pregnant woman and her fetus. Maternal/fetal cocaine concentration ratios were high when comparing blood (9:1), brain (6:5), and kidney (10:6). Possible explanations of the mechanism for lower fetal cocaine concentrations may include uterine vasoconstriction, incomplete maternal/fetal equalibration, or rapid placental/fetal clearance.
authors.affiliation: Dade County Medical Examiner Department, Miami, FL.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Mittleman
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cofino
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Hearn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000506:poisoning; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D003042:Cocaine