Exposure to marijuana during pregnancy alters neurobehavior in the early neonatal period.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the neurobehavior of full-term neonates of adolescent mothers exposed to marijuana during pregnancy.


METHODS
This prospective cross-sectional study included full-term infants within 24 to 72 hours of life born to adolescent mothers at a single center in Brazil. Data on sociodemographic and obstetrical and neonatal characteristics were collected. The mothers underwent the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, and the infants were assessed with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS). Maternal hair and neonatal meconium were analyzed. Neonates exposed in utero to tobacco, alcohol, cocaine, and/or any other drugs except marijuana were excluded.


RESULTS
Of 3685 infants born in the study hospital, 928 (25%) were born to adolescent mothers. Of these, 561 infants met the inclusion criteria and were studied. Marijuana exposure was detected in 26 infants (4.6%). Infants exposed (E) or not exposed (NE) to marijuana differed in the following NNNS variables: arousal (E, 4.05 +/- 1.19 vs NE, 3.68 +/- 0.70), regulation (E, 5.75 +/- 0.62 vs NE, 6.04 +/- 0.72), and excitability (E, 3.27 +/- 1.40 vs NE, 2.40 +/- 1.57). After controlling for confounding variables, the effect of marijuana exposure on these scores remained significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Marijuana exposure during pregnancy alters the neurobehavioral performance of term newborn infants of adolescent mothers.
de Moraes Barros
Marina Carvalho
MC
Division of Neonatal Medicine, Division of Biostatistics, and Research Unit on Alcohol and Drugs, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Guinsburg
Ruth
R
de Araújo Peres
Clovis
C
Mitsuhiro
Sandro
S
Chalem
Elisa
E
Laranjeira
Ronaldo Ramos
RR
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018730:Infant Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies