Cardiovascular effects of cocaine during pregnancy

Abstract

Cocaine administration during pregnancy results in major maternal cardiovascular effects that in some cases exceed those observed in the nonpregnant state. Animal studies have shown increases in heart rate and blood pressure and decreases in regional organ blood flow. Fetal effects include arterial hypoxemia, increases in blood pressure and heart rate, and increases in cerebral blood flow that may be related not only to hypertension and hypoxemia, but also to direct effects on cerebral blood vessels. Fetal intestinal blood flow is decreased. These effects may be related to the clinical consequences of cocaine use during pregnancy.