Maternal methadone may cause arrhythmias in neonates.
Methadone treatment is a well recognised cause of QT interval lengthening in adults. In this case report, we present for the first time, clinically significant QT interval lengthening in a neonate secondary to maternal methadone treatment. Neonatal paediatricians should be aware of this important and potentially serious clinical phenomenon.


CONCLUSIONS
Bradycardia, tachycardia or an irregular heart rate in an infant born to a mother on methadone treatment should not be ignored and a 12-lead electrocardiogram should be performed. Furthermore, there is also a need for a prospective study of QTc intervals in infants born to mothers receiving methadone.
Hussain
Tarique
T
Neonatal Unit, Birmingham Women's Hospital, Birmingham, UK. tarique@doctors.org.uk
Ewer
Andrew K
AK
D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced*
D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone