Intracranial hemorrhage in a neonate following prenatal cocaine exposure

A term infant who had a positive urine drug screen for cocaine is reported. There was ultrasonographic evidence of an intracranial hemorrhage. A small area of low echogenicity in the left caudothalamic groove documented at 96 hours of age was resolved on repeat ultrasonography at 16 days of age. This neonate was born by repeat cesarean section and growth was appropriate for gestational age. The findings indicate the importance of considering cerebrovascular events in neonates exposed to cocaine in utero.