Prenatal cocaine exposure and prematurity: Neurodevelopmental growth

The consequences of prematurity and prenatal cocaine exposure on early neur obehavior and physical growth were examined longitudinally in a sample of 2 0 cocaine-exposed and 20 nan-exposed preterm neonates. The magnitude of the difference in physical growth acceleration related to prenatal cocaine exp osure increased with increasing birth gestational age, whereas growth rate differences in irritability decreased. In contrast, prenatal cocaine exposu re, independent of prematurity, was related to reduced attention skills at 36 weeks conceptional age and increased rates of neurobehavioral change. Th e effects of prenatal cocaine exposure differed with respect to the degree of prematurity, depending on the nature of the outcome examined, suggesting differing windows of vulnerability for different outcome domains. The usef ulness of a developmental growth perspective was demonstrated. J Dev Behav Pediatr 21:262-270, 2000. Index terms: prenatal cocaine exposure, neurobeha vioral development, prematurity: growth.