Fetal malformations in pregnant user of illegal drugs

case report

Abstract

It has been more frequent the diagnosis of congenital anomalies by the use of ultrasound in pregnancy. It is estimated that each day 250 – 650 fetus are exposed to cocaine and other drugs. Bad formations and anomalies caused by the use of cocaine during pregnancy (teratogenic) well also detected among pregnant drug users. This reveals that cocaine has a direct toxic action on the developing fetus. CASE REPORT: 28 year old patient, Miscarriage: 3, with history of chronic alcohol consumption and user of illegal substances since the age of nineteen. The first trimester ultrasound identifies a fetus of 17 weeks by biometrics, with a cervical spine breach, presence of a bad defined abdominal mass, with dilatation of the two lateral ventricles, frontal region bulging and bad defined thoracic diameter. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Fetuses exposed to drugs in the perinathologic period, could present various effects in all organs and systems, all related to the high power of vasoconstriction and the vascular ruptures produced by cocaine. This produce neonate’s motor and cognitive delay, attention disorder, reduction in the adaptation capacity, different verbal reactions, prematurity, seizures and several bad formations in different body structures such as: ophthalmologic, cardiovascular and cerebral.