Prenatal cocaine/polydrug exposure: effect of race on outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effect of prenatal exposure to cocaine on development.


METHODS
We tested 106 infants in the range of 4 to 30 months adjusted age with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development.


RESULTS
The 46 cocaine-exposed infants had similar mental scores to those of the 60 control infants. Among the 47 black infants, motor scores were 11.2 points higher in cocaine-exposed infants than in control infants (115.1 and 103.9, respectively, p = 0.023). Among the 59 white infants, motor scores were similar in cocaine-exposed infants (102.9) and control infants (100.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Genetic differences may account for this variation in motor development of cocaine-exposed infants.
Billman
D O
DO
Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
Nemeth
P B
PB
Heimler
R
R
Sasidharan
P
P
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003042:Cocaine; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012016:Reference Values; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications
D003042:Cocaine