ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to review the clinical and ultrasound experience of
renal tract abnormalities associated with cocaine exposure in utero. We undertook
a 3-year chart review of all infants admitted to British Columbia's Children's Hospital
neonatal intensive care unit and Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children in order to
identify patients with the diagnostic code for maternal drug or substance use. There
were 136 neonates with a positive history or urine drug screen. Renal ultrasound scans
had been performed on 79 patients. Ultrasound abnormalities were found in 11 patients
(14%) and included horseshoe kidney (2), unilateral abnormal small kidney (1), duplex
kidney (1), and renal tract dilation (8). Clinical findings were glandular (2) and
juxtaglandular (1) hypospadias with chordee. The patients with hypospadias did not
have other abnormalities or abnormal renal ultrasound scans. In our population of
infants exposed to cocaine in utero we detected an increased incidence of hypospadias
and an increased incidence of renal tract abnormalities. We conclude that cocaine
exposure in utero may well be a risk factor for renal tract anomalies. However, a
larger, longer-term prospective study is necessary before definitive recommendations
can be given for routine screening by ultrasound of all infants exposed to cocaine
in utero.
Keywords
Cocaine exposure in utero - maternal drug abuse - genitourinary tract abnormalities
- ultrasonography
