EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM USE OF NICOTINE GUM IN PREGNANT SMOKERS

Objectives: To compare blood concentrations of nicotine and cotinine a nd maternal and fetal hemodynamic effects resulting from use of nicoti ne gum versus cigarette smoking in pregnant smokers. Methods: Pregnant women (24 to 36 weeks' gestation) who smoked chronically were randoml y assigned with a 1:2 randomization scheme to either a group that smok ed cigarettes (n = 10) or to a group that stopped smoking and chewed a t least sis pieces of nicotine gum (2 mg nicotine per piece) per day ( n = 19), Blood nicotine and cotinine concentrations, maternal heart ra te and blood pressure, uterine resistance index, and fetal heart rate and umbilical artery resistance index were obtained before and after o ne cigarette was smoked al: baseline and after 5 continuous days of ei ther chewing gum or smoking, Results: A significant reduction from bas eline in nicotine (p < 0.0001) and cotinine (p < 0.0025) concentration s n as observed in those who chewed nicotine gum compared with those w ho smoked cigarettes, No significant differences in the changes in mat ernal or fetal hemodynamic parameters from baseline to estimated time of peak nicotine exposure were observed between those who smoked cigar ettes and those who chewed nicotine gum. Conclusion: Short-term use of nicotine gum delivers less nicotine than usual cigarette smoking in p regnant women.