In Utero Exposure to Pregabalin: Interest of Meconium Analysis – A Case Report

In Algeria, the misuse of pregabalin in the context of drug addiction, particularly among pregnant women, poses a significant risk to the fetus. Our objective was to confirm prenatal exposure to this substance through the analysis of maternal and neonatal samples. <i>In utero</i> exposure to pregabalin can lead to early neonatal symptoms and chronic effects on child development. This case study details the toxicological analysis performed on samples from a newborn whose mother, a drug user, consumed pregabalin during pregnancy. Immunochromatographic screening revealed the presence of pregabalin in maternal urine, while the initial meconium test was negative. However, further analysis by GC-MS successfully detected pregabalin in the meconium, thereby confirming prenatal exposure. This case underscores that meconium is a key matrix in prenatal toxicology, capable of accumulating xenobiotics and enabling their detection long after they have been cleared from blood or urine.