Visual evoked potentials in infants exposed to methadone in utero.

Full Abstract

We investigated the effects of maternal drug misuse on neonatal visual evoked potentials (VEPs). Flash VEPs were recorded within 4 days of birth from 21 term infants of mothers misusing drugs and prescribed substitute methadone and 20 controls. Waveforms were classified as typical, atypical, immature or non-detectable, and amplitude and latencies were measured. VEPs from drug-exposed infants were less likely to be of typical waveform and more likely to be immature or non-detectable (p<0.01) than those of control infants. They were also smaller in amplitude (median 10.8 vs 24.4 microV, p<0.001). VEPs of drug-exposed infants had matured after 1 week but remained of lower amplitude than VEPs of newborn controls (p<0.01) and were non-detectable in 15%. Flash VEPs differ between maternal drug-exposed and non-drug-exposed newborns. Future research should address the specific effects of maternal methadone and/or other illicit drug misuse on infant VEPs, and associations between neonatal VEPs and subsequent visual development.

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Author information

Author/s: McGlone, L (L); Mactier, H (H); Hamilton, R (R); Bradnam, M S (MS); Boulton, R (R); Borland, W (W); Hepburn, M (M); McCulloch, D L (DL);

Affiliation: Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. helen.mactier(-atsign-)northglasgow.scot.nhs.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Archives of disease in childhood (Arch Dis Child), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Sep; vol 93 (issue 9) : pp 784-6

Dates: Created 2008/08/22; Completed 2008/09/29;

PMID: 18305073, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Case-Control Studies
Child Development - drug effects
Evoked Potentials, Visual - drug effects; physiology
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Methadone - adverse effects

Mothers
Narcotics - adverse effects
Pregnancy
Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - physiopathology
Prospective Studies
Substance-Related Disorders - rehabilitation
Treatment Outcome

Associated Chemicals: Narcotics (0) ; Methadone (76-99-3)

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