Cytogenetics of methadone-managed and heroin-addicted pregnant women and their newborn infants.

Chromosomal damage was assessed prenatally and at delivery from 99 addicted pregnant women (80 from a methadone maintenance program and 19 heroin addicts) and their 101 off-spring at delivery. About 10% of the 27,907 cells scored showed chromosomal abberations. Chromosome damage was random, affected all chromosomes, and was mainly of the acentric fragment type. The per cent of hypodiploidy was significantly higher than the per cent of hyperdiploidy. In the mothers, no significant differences were found with respect to dosage and duration of methadone treatment and years of heroin abuse. No significant association was found between maternal variables and infant chromosome damage. Infants with low Apgar scores (1 to 6) had cells with significantly higher levels of chromosome damage than infants with higher scores (7 to 10).