Perinatal outcomes of synthetic cathinone (“bath salts”) use in pregnancy: a case series

ABSTRACT

Background

Little is known about the effects of exposure to synthetic cathinone drugs in pregnancy.

Methods

We report five cases of pregnant women with opioid use disorder who tested positive for α-Pyrrolidinohexiophenone (alpha-PHP), a synthetic cathinone. We describe key characteristics of the course of disease and its treatment, as well as perinatal and treatment outcomes. We present a composite case example demonstrating relevant clinical issues.

Results

All cases of women with synthetic cathinone use were notable for decreased engagement in care and clinical signs associated with active substance use (difficulty maintaining personal hygiene, disorganized behavior suggestive of psychostimulant intoxication) despite reporting abstinence and testing negative for psychostimulants on standard urine toxicology testing. Four of the five women delivered prior to 38 weeks’ gestation and infants of three of the mothers were placed in foster care at birth.

Conclusion

It is not known to what degree synthetic cathinone use may have contributed to these adverse perinatal outcomes in these cases. Research on the effects and treatment of synthetic cathinones during pregnancy is needed to guide identification and treatment for women using these substances and to improve outcomes for mothers and infants.

KEYWORDS:

• Perinatal substance use
• synthetic cathinones
• addiction in pregnancy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.