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The placental transfer of cimetidine
Author(s) -
HOWE J.P.,
MCGOWAN W.A.W.,
MOORE J.,
MCCAUGHEY W.,
DUNDEE J.W.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
anaesthesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.839
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1365-2044
pISSN - 0003-2409
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1981.tb10240.x
Subject(s) - cimetidine , medicine , umbilical cord , caesarean section , obstetrics , fetus , elective caesarean section , anesthesia , placenta , breast milk , cord blood , pregnancy , immunology , biochemistry , chemistry , biology , genetics
Summary The placental transfer of cimetidine 200 mg intravenously was investigated in 16 patients in normal labour and 40 patients undergoing elective Caesarean section. Cimetidine crosses the placental barrier, blood levels at delivery in mothers and infants being lower with increasing time from injection. Umbilical cord blood cimetidine levels are markedly lower than those of the mother during the first hour following administration but thereafter levels are similar. The mean fetal–maternal ratio at delivery was highest (0.84) at 1 1/2–2 hours following administration. Postdelivery infant and maternal blood samples showed that cimetidine could not be detected, in most cases, 19 hours following administration. The relevance of these findings is discussed.