title: Fetal and infant deaths associated with maternal methamphetamine abuse.
abstract: Eight cases of fetal and infant death related to maternal methamphetamine abuse are presented. The mean fetal blood concentration of methamphetamine was 0.36 microgram/mL (range, 0.03-1.20 micrograms/mL), and the mean concentration of amphetamine was 0.05 microgram/mL (range, 0-0.08 microgram/mL). Both maternal and fetal blood methamphetamine concentrations were obtained in two cases. The maternal and fetal methamphetamine concentrations for these two cases were 0.21 and 0.40 microgram/mL and 0.18 and 1.20 micrograms/mL, respectively. The cause of death for each case, as listed by the pathologist, is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Sciences, Oakland, California 94609, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Meeker
mesh_terms: D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000139:chemically induced; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000097:blood / Q000506:poisoning*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000139:chemically induced; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D008694:Methamphetamine