This meta- analysis showed no significant impairments , at a non-conservative significance level of p < 0.05 , for cognitive , psychomotor or observed behavioural outcomes for chronic intra-uterine exposed infants and pre-school children compared to non-exposed infants and children .
However , all domains suggested a trend to poor outcomes in infants/children of opioid using mothers .
Conclusions Chronic intra-uterine opioid exposed infants and pre-school children experienced no significant impairment in neurobehavioral outcomes when compared to non-exposed peers , although in all domains there was a trend to poorer outcomes .
Background It is assumed within the accumulated literature that children born of pregnant opioid dependent mothers have impaired neurobehavioral function as a consequence of chronic intrauterine opioid use .
Visual outcome in infants born to drug-misusing mothers prescribed methadone in pregnancy
Background Flash visual evoked potentials ( VEPs ) were abnormal in a cohort of 100 neonates exposed to maintenance methadone in utero . This prospect i ve cohort study now describes clinical visual and electrophysiological outcomes at 6 months . Methods Visual assessment included modified Atkinson test battery ; strabismus , nystagmus , reduced visual acuity , delayed visual maturation or refractive error ( > 3 dioptres ) defined a fail . Pattern-onset VEPs were recorded to 120′ , 60′ and 15′ checks . Results 81 drug-exposed and 26 comparison infants ( 79 % and 52 % of the original cohorts ) were assessed at a median age of 27 weeks ( range 26–30 ) . 90 % of drug-exposed infants had been additionally exposed to illicit drugs and 41 % to excess alcohol in utero . 40 % of the drug-exposed cohort failed clinical visual assessment : the relative risk of abnormal assessment was 5.1 ( 95 % CI 1.3 to 20 ; p=0.02 ) . Nystagmus was particularly common . VEP peak times were slower and amplitudes smaller in drug-exposed infants , of whom 70 % had one or more abnormal VEP parameter . Abnormal visual outcome at 6 months was not associated with the pattern of additional drug exposure or a history of neonatal abstinence . Conclusions Abnormal visual electrophysiology in infants born to drug-misusing mothers prescribed maintenance methadone  persists to 6 months of age , and is associated with abnormal clinical visual assessment
This meta- analysis showed no significant impairments , at a non-conservative significance level of p < 0.05 , for cognitive , psychomotor or observed behavioural outcomes for chronic intra-uterine exposed infants and pre-school children compared to non-exposed infants and children .
However , all domains suggested a trend to poor outcomes in infants/children of opioid using mothers .
Conclusions Chronic intra-uterine opioid exposed infants and pre-school children experienced no significant impairment in neurobehavioral outcomes when compared to non-exposed peers , although in all domains there was a trend to poorer outcomes .
Background It is assumed within the accumulated literature that children born of pregnant opioid dependent mothers have impaired neurobehavioral function as a consequence of chronic intrauterine opioid use .