In Utero Exposure to Pregabalin: Interest of Meconium Analysis - A Case Report

In Algeria, the misuse of pregabalin in the context of drug addiction, particularly among pregnant women, poses a significant risk to the fetus. Our objective was to confirm prenatal exposure to this substance through the analysis of maternal and neonatal samples. In utero exposure to pregabalin can lead to early neonatal symptoms and chronic effects on child development. This case study details the toxicological analysis performed on samples from a newborn whose mother, a drug user, consumed pregabalin during pregnancy. Immunochromatographic screening revealed the presence of pregabalin in maternal urine, while the initial meconium test was negative. However, further analysis by GC-MS successfully detected pregabalin in the meconium, thereby confirming prenatal exposure. This case underscores that meconium is a key matrix in prenatal toxicology, capable of accumulating xenobiotics and enabling their detection long after they have been cleared from blood or urine.