Prenatal exposure to cocaine may alter autonomic nervous system function resulting in hypertension. Blood pressure was measured oscillometrically in a convenience sample of cocaine-exposed (n=32) and nonexposed (n=23) children, aged 8 to 26 months, by examiners unaware of exposure status. The exposed and nonexposed groups did not differ in systolic pressure (mean ± SD 102.3 ± 9.9 mm Hg vs 101.8 ± 8.1, respectively), diastolic pressure (45.7 ± 13.6 vs 51.7 ± 10.6), or pulse rate (113.0 ± 19.7 vs 119.1 ± 19.4). Prenatal exposure to cocaine does not appear to be associated with elevated blood pressure in young children.
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