This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nuesslein, T G Articles by Rieger, C H L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nuesslein, T G Articles by Rieger, C H L Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Cotinine in meconium indicates risk for early respiratory tract infections

D Beckers

C H L Rieger

Children' Hospital of the Ruhr-University, Alexandrinenstrasse 5, D-44 791 Bochum, Germany

1. 1 In order to identifypotential risks for lower respiratory tract symptoms during early infancy, the concentration of cotinine was measured in meconium of 91 newborns as a parameter of prenatal exposure to tobacco, and a questionnaire was performed with parents at birth. Infants were followed up for the first year of life by monthly telephone interviews.
   
2. 2 Lower respiratory tract infections during the first 6 months of life were associated with a high concentration of cotinine in meconium (cotinine higher than median vs lower than median; odds ratio 4.9, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 20.3), while none of the other variables tested including selfreport of parental, prenatal or postnatal tobacco consumption, parents history of atopy, maternal age, presence of siblings, socio-economic status, duration of gestation, birth weight, gender, and duration of breast feeding were identified as independent risks. The occurrence of a lower respiratory tract infection during the first 6 months of life was predicted correctly in 77% of the infants by a cotinine excretion in meconium exceeding the group median.
   
3. 3 In conclusion, quantification of cotinine in meconium is preferred to historical parameters as an estimate of the risk for early respiratory tract infections.
   

Key Words: maternal smoking • pregnancy • cotinine in meconium • lower respiratory tract infection • infancy

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Kohler, S. Avenarius, A. Rabsilber, C. Gerloff, and G. Jorch Assessment of prenatal tobacco smoke exposure by determining nicotine and its metabolites in meconium Human and Experimental Toxicology, June 1, 2007; 26(6): 535 - 544. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B P Lanphear and C F Bearer Biomarkers in paediatric research and practice Arch. Dis. Child., June 1, 2005; 90(6): 594 - 600. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Hukkanen, P. Jacob III, and N. L. Benowitz Metabolism and Disposition Kinetics of Nicotine Pharmacol. Rev., March 1, 2005; 57(1): 79 - 115. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Nelson The miseries of passive smoiong Human and Experimental Toxicology, February 1, 2001; 20(2): 61 - 83. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E Kohler, D Bretschneider, A Rabsilber, W Weise, and G Jorch Assessment of prenatal smoke exposure by determining nicotine and its metabolites in maternal and neonatal urine Human and Experimental Toxicology, January 1, 2001; 20(1): 1 - 7. [Abstract] [PDF]