Neonatal abstinence syndrome in European and North American neonates

Autor(en)
L. Kirchner, K. Graf-Rohrmeister, K. Klebermass-Schrehof, M. Weninger, R. Jagsch, V. Metz, A. Unger, G. Fischer
Abstrakt

Background: Due to the steady increase of substance-dependent pregnant women the neonatal abstinence syndrome has become an increasingly important issue in neonatology. The present study investigates site-specific differences of detailed symptoms and treatment of neonatal abstinence syndrome within the context of an international multicenter clinical trial. Methods: Site specific neonatal data analyses from a prospective randomized, double-blind, double-dummy clinical trial (MOTHER study) was performed. A standardized NAS rating and treatment protocol was applied, while non-pharmacological care of NAS symptoms differed across the sites. Results: Urban US neonates exhibited most neurological symptoms (p<0.001) while in Europe autonomous, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms were found significantly more often compared to urban and/or rural US (p<0.05). Methadone produced significantly greater scores than buprenorphine in neurological, behavioural and respiratory symptoms regardless of the sites (ps<0.05). NAS treatment rates in all site clusters were similar for methadone-exposed neonates, while in Europe significantly more buprenorphine-exposed neonates were treated (p=0.001) than in US site clusters. Urban US neonates had significantly higher NAS scores (p<0.01) compared to rural US and European neonates, and needed significantly higher morphine doses (p<0.05) with longer treatment duration. Birth weight, length and head circumference did not differ significantly among the site clusters, but APGAR scores were significantly higher in European (p<0.01) neonates. Conclusion: In addition to intrauterine medication exposure other aspects such as different addiction severity of the mothers, different treatment modalities including rooming-in as well as the frequency of NAS ratings may be influencing the course of NAS.

Organisation(en)
Institut für Klinische und Gesundheitspsychologie
Externe Organisation(en)
Medizinische Universität Wien
Journal
Klinische Pädiatrie
Band
226
Seiten
274-280
Anzahl der Seiten
7
ISSN
0300-8630
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1372586
Publikationsdatum
09-2014
Peer-reviewed
Ja
ÖFOS 2012
501010 Klinische Psychologie, 301211 Toxikologie, 303025 Präventivmedizin, 302049 Neonatologie
Schlagwörter
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Link zum Portal
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/8cf0b2b9-e5bd-4201-88e1-6e174905c551