Cocaine use and its effect on umbilical artery prostacyclin production

Cocaine's association with adverse perinatal outcome has been attributed to its inhibition of norepinephrine uptake. This study examined the effect of cocaine on umbilical artery prostacyclin (PGI2) production. Umbilical arteries from pregnant cocaine users and controls were incubated in vitro and PGI2 levels in the media determined by measuring its stable metabolite, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, by RIA. Cocaine users showed a significant decrease (p less than .05) in PGI2 production from their umbilical arteries when compared to controls. This appears to be through a direct effect of cocaine, as it decreases PGI2 production when added in vitro to umbilical arteries from controls. In addition, in vitro phospholipase A2 activity is inhibited by cocaine in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the adverse perinatal outcome associated with cocaine use may be due in part to reduced vascular PGI2 production in the fetus.