The effects of prenatal MA exposure on the developing fetus
have not been well characterized. Isolated cases of cardiac
defects, cleft lip and biliary atresia have been reported in infants
exposed to MA in utero [34]. Similar to findings reported in
neonates exposed to cocaine, increased rates of premature birth,
fetal distress and growth restriction in the offspring of women
using MA during pregnancy have been reported [15]. MA is
frequently compared to cocaine as both are sympathomimetic
agents. However, the neurotoxic effects of MA may be greater
than cocaine due to its longer half life and more sympathomimetic
mechanisms. Hansen and colleagues reported poorer
visual recognition memory, a measure correlated with subsequent
IQ in MA and cocaine-exposed newborns [20]. The most
extensive follow-up data regarding amphetamine-exposed
children are from a series of reports from Sweden by Billing
and colleagues who have followed a group of amphetamineexposed
children from birth to age 14. In the first few months of
life, increased drowsiness was noted [5]. Among children exposed
to amphetamine continuously throughout pregnancy,
emotional characteristics of autism, speech problems and signs
of wariness of strangers were noted by age one [5]. By age 4, IQ
was lower than a normative group of Swedish children [6] and
at age 8 prenatal exposure predicted aggressive behavior and
problems with peers [4]. At age 14, the children showed problems
with advancement in school due to delays in math and
language and had difficulties with physical fitness activities[10].
The limitations of these reports of children exposed to MA
include the lack of a control group, small sample size and
confounding with other prenatal drug use