title: New meconium biomarkers of prenatal methamphetamine exposure increase identification of affected neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prenatal methamphetamine (MAMP) exposure is poorly reflected in neonatal meconium. Often, maternal self-reported MAMP use is not corroborated by positive results in amphetamines immunoassays of meconium, and even if initial test results are positive, they frequently are not confirmed for MAMP or amphetamine (AMP) by chromatographic analysis. The presence of the MAMP metabolites p-hydroxymethamphetamine (pOHMAMP), p-hydroxyamphetamine (pOHAMP), and norephedrine (NOREPH) in meconium may improve the identification of MAMP- and AMP-exposed neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunoassay-positive and -negative meconium samples were subjected to liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometric reanalysis for these recently identified metabolites.
  
  
  RESULTS
  pOHAMP and NOREPH were detected only when MAMP and/or AMP were present and thus do not appear to be promising biomarkers of prenatal MAMP exposure. pOHMAMP, in contrast, identified 6 additional neonates whose mothers reported MAMP exposure, yet had a meconium sample screened as negative; pOHMAMP was more likely to be present if maternal MAMP use continued into the third trimester. Although the pOHMAMP results for meconium samples corroborated the maternal self-reports, the confirmation rate for positive meconium screening results did not improve with the inclusion of these new biomarkers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  pOHMAMP identified additional MAMP- exposed neonates; therefore, MAMP, AMP, and pOHMAMP should be included in meconium chromatographic analyses. Maximizing the identification of MAMP-exposed children requires improvement in immunoassay screening tests to reduce false-negative and false-positive results. Additional research will help clarify which AMP-related compounds, if any, contribute to unconfirmed positive results in screening tests. Furthermore, nonamphetamine compounds endogenous to the complex meconium matrix also may cross-react, making chromatographic confirmation of screening results essential.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Drug Metabolism, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Teresa R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Tamsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Linda L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: LaGasse
authors.forename: Lynne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Derauf
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: Rizwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arria
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haning
authors.forename: Sheri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Della Grotta
authors.forename: Arthur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Barry M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: Marilyn A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Huestis
mesh_terms: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008470:Meconium / Q000737:chemistry*; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008694:Methamphetamine