title: Neonatal hair analysis contribution to establishing a gestational drug exposure profile and predicting a withdrawal syndrome.
abstract: Recently, interest in hair analysis in such fields as drug abuse, driving, or for clinical purposes (determination of drug-exposed neonates especially) has grown because of the highly sensitive method of detection (GC-MS) that can now be applied. Neonates born to drug-addicted mothers can suffer from neonatal withdrawal syndrome (NWS), which requires morphine treatment in its severe forms. To assess and measure toxicologic factors predicting the appearance and the severity of this syndrome, matrices such as urine, meconium, and hair are necessary. Cannabinoids, opiates, cocaine (and its metabolites), and methadone in particular were determined in the various matrices collected in 17 mother/neonate pairs. An immunologic screening method was used, and quantification was achieved with GC-MS. In spite of some bias (color, length, race) that might hinder an accurate interpretation, the results of hair analysis makes it possible to confirm a fetal drug exposure and to reinforce the diagnosis of the NWS observed, particularly when results obtained in other matrices are negative. Hair analysis contributes to our ability to predict a NWS.
authors.affiliation: Unité Fonctionnelle de Toxicologie, Laboratoire de Biochimie et de Biologie Moléculaire, Hôpital Calmette, CHR&U de Lille, 59037 Lille Cedex, France. e-vinner@chru-lille.fr
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vinner
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vignau
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thibault
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Codaccioni
authors.forename: Claudie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brassart
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Humbert
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lhermitte
mesh_terms: D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D009294:Narcotics; D003042:Cocaine; D008691:Methadone