Maternal use of methamphetamine alters cardiovascular function in the adult offspring

Abstract

Methamphetamine is one of the most commonly used illicit drugs during pregnancy. Most studies investigating the impact of maternal use of methamphetamine on children have focused on neurological outcomes. In contrast cardiovascular outcomes in these children have not been characterized. Recent studies in rodents provide evidence that prenatal exposure to methamphetamine induces changes in cardiac gene expression, changes in the heart’s susceptibility to ischemic injury, and changes in vascular function that may increase the risk of developing cardiovascular disorders later in life. Importantly, these changes are sex-dependent. This review summarizes our current understanding of how methamphetamine use during pregnancy impacts the cardiovascular function of adult offspring and highlight gaps in our knowledge of the potential cardiovascular risks associated with prenatal exposure to methamphetamine.

Trends in Drug Tests among Children: A 22-Year Retrospective Analysis

“…The UDS was performed for amphetamines, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, cocaine, ecstasy, methadone, and opiates. The types and methods to perform the UDSs were described in [ 10 ]. The immunoassays OPI Flex reagent cartridge (Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, Inc., Newark, DE, USA) in the Siemens Dimension Vista ® System (Siemens Healthineers Medical Solutions USA, Inc., Newark, DE, USA) was used to detect the drugs.…”

“…Most substances ingested by a pregnant woman are placentally transferred to the fetus, primarily through a simple diffusion [ 4 , 5 ], which could also lead to stillbirth or cause short- and long-lasting effects on a newborn’s development [ 6 ]. Additionally, these effects can persist into adulthood, resulting in learning disabilities, cognitive disorders [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], and chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease [ 10 ]. The most attention and research were devoted to adverse effects of opioids, cannabinoids, stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco use during pregnancies [ 11 ].…”