Placental transfer of methadone and cocaine and its impact on placental function

Aims: Methadone is the therapeutic agent of choice for treatment of opiate addiction in pregnancy. However, the opinion to its advantages is divided and co-consumption (cocaine, heroin) which may influence the effects of methadone is frequent. Objective: To study the placental transfer of methadone and cocain and its impact on placental function. Material and methods: Term placentae (n=18) delivered by c. section were perfused in the “ex-vivo placenta perfusion model“ with medium containing methadone alone or methadone plus cocaine (2h) and vice versa. The concentration of methadone and its metabolite was analys…