Elsevier

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Volume 87, Issue 1, January 1996, Pages 128-132
Obstetrics & Gynecology

Accelerated fetal lung maturity profiles and maternal cocaine exposure*

https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-7844(95)00353-3Get rights and content

Objective

To determine the effect of maternal cocaine exposure on fetal lung maturity as measured by surfactantalbumin ratios determined by the TDx-FLM test.

Methods

A case-control study design was used to compare fetal lung maturity as assessed by a surfactant-albumin ratio assay (TDx-FLM) in amniotic fluid (AF) obtained from women who were known to use cocaine and those who were not known to use cocaine during the study pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression procedures were used to control for gestational age and possible confounders, such as obstetric and nonobstetric complications, other substance abuse, race, infant sex, and payer status.

Results

Maternal cocaine use during pregnancy was associated with an accelerated fetal lung maturity profile (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–4.00) as determined by the TDx-FLM test. Other variables found to be statistically significant predictors of a mature fetal lung profile were cigarette smoking during the current pregnancy (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.02–2.56). Preterm labor, preterm rupture of membranes, nonobstetric illness during pregnancy, and exposure to other abused substances were not associated with accelerated fetal lung maturity.

Conclusion

Maternal cocaine use during pregnancy is associated with a doubling of the probability of a mature fetal lung profile as determined by TDx-FLM analysis of AF. Tobacco use is also a predictor of accelerated fetal lung maturity profiles.

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    *

    This research was supported in part by a grant from the Mother's Aid Research Fund of the University of Chicago, Chicago. Illinois.

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