Opioid Replacement for Pregnant Mothers With Opioid Use Disorder and Fetal Neurodevelopment: A Review
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Abstract
This paper reviews the published literature regarding neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates following in utero exposure to opioids. We have summarized available clinical and experimental data. Overall, clinical data is limited and equivocal with most studies showing no significant neurodevelopmental impairments in infants and children exposed to opioids in utero. Various outcome measures assessed language, communication, cognitive, psychomotor, and behavioural outcomes. The equivocality of the data may be a result of the complexity of the cohort and the inability to disentangle the effect of the opioids from the multiple comorbidities. Results from experimental data show that all opioids cross the placental barrier. Mouse studies show biochemical and neurophysiological changes, leading to long-term effects on learning and memory. Some data also suggests that epigenetic and imprinting changes in the central nervous system of mice may lead to multigenerational effects of opioid exposure. Ultimately, the benefits of opioid replacement therapy outweigh its risks, but it should be done in the context of a broader biopsychosocial risk reduction approach. Promoting mother-child bonding and care through skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in, and breastfeeding can reduce severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome and improve outcomes. This cohort of women and children requires advocacy for comprehensive multidisciplinary care.
Résumé
Cet article passe en revue la littérature publiée concernant les résultats neurodéveloppementaux chez les nouveau-nés après exposition in utero aux opioïdes. Nous avons résumé les données cliniques et expérimentales disponibles. Dans l’ensemble, les don- nées cliniques sont limitées et équivoques, avec la plupart des études ne montrant aucune déficience neurodéveloppementale significative chez les nourrissons et les enfants exposés aux opioïdes in utero. Diverses mesures de résultats ont évalué les résultats linguistiques, de communication, cognitifs, psychomoteurs et comportementaux. L’équivocité des données peut être le résultat de la complexité de la cohorte et de l’incapacité à démêler l’effet des opioïdes des multiples comorbidités. Les résultats des données expérimentales montrent que tous les opioïdes traversent la barrière placentaire. Les études sur la souris montrent des changements biochimiques et neurophysiologiques, conduisant à des effets à long terme sur l’apprentissage et la mémoire. Certaines données suggèrent également que les changements épigénétiques et d’empreinte dans le système nerveux central des souris peuvent conduire à des effets multigénérationnels de l’exposition aux opioïdes. En fin de compte, les avantages de la thérapie de substitution aux opioïdes l’emportent sur ses risques, mais cela devrait être fait dans le contexte d’une approche plus large de réduction des risques biopsychosociaux. La promotion des liens et des soins entre la mère et l’enfant par le contact peau à peau, l’accoutumance et l’allaitement peut réduire la gravité du syndrome d’abstinence néonatale et améliorer les résultats. Cette cohorte de femmes et d’enfants a besoin de plaidoyer pour des soins multidisciplinaires complets.
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