[Meconium as a new biological material for detecting intrauterine exposure to toxic substances]

Barbara Lisowska-Myjak1

  • 1Katedra i Zakład Biochemii i Chemii Klinicznej, Akademia Medyczna w Warszawie. tomasz@artibus.pl

Ginekologia Polska
|December 21, 2005
PubMed

The use of licit and illicit drugs and exposure to other xenobiotic agents during pregnancy is common. These substances are known to have adverse effects on the pregnancy and fetus; however information on fetal exposure is sparse due to the lack of an appropriate measure of exposure. Meconium analysis is a new method for identifying in utero exposure of infants to a number of illicit and legal drugs, alcohol, nicotine, heavy metals, pesticides, congenital infections. It's testing is non-invasive, highly accurate and able to detect prior exposure in utero during 12-40 weeks of gestation. This has implications for toxicology to develop improved methods to identify exposed infants.

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