Buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in hair of pregnant women and their infants after controlled buprenorphine administration.
BACKGROUND
Buprenorphine is under investigation as a pharmacotherapeutic agent for treating opioid dependence in pregnant women. We hypothesized that there would be a relationship between the cumulative maternal dose of buprenorphine during pregnancy and the concentration of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in maternal and infant hair.


METHODS
This study examined buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine concentrations in hair obtained from 9 buprenorphine-maintained pregnant women and 4 of their infants. Specimens were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with limits of quantification of 3.0 pg/mg. All maternal hair specimens were washed with methylene chloride before analysis, and when sufficient amounts of maternal hair were available, specimens also were analyzed without washing. Infant hair specimens were not washed.


RESULTS
Buprenorphine concentrations were significantly greater in unwashed hair than washed hair (P = 0.031). Norbuprenorphine concentrations were significantly greater than buprenorphine concentrations in both maternal (P = 0.0097) and infant hair (P = 0.0033). There were statistically significant associations between the cumulative maternal dose of buprenorphine administered and the concentrations of buprenorphine (washed, P <0.0001; unwashed, P = 0.0004), norbuprenorphine (washed, P <0.0001; unwashed, P = 0.0005), and buprenorphine plus norbuprenorphine (washed, P <0.0001; unwashed, P = 0.0005) for both washed and unwashed maternal hair specimens. There was a significant positive association between concentrations of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in maternal hair (washed, P <0.0001; unwashed, P = 0.0003), a trend for this association in infant hair (P = 0.08), and an association between buprenorphine concentrations in maternal unwashed hair and infant hair (P = 0.0002). The buprenorphine:norbuprenorphine ratio increased in distal segments.


CONCLUSIONS
Buprenorphine treatment during gestation provides an opportunity for monitoring drug disposition in maternal and fetal tissues under controlled conditions.
Goodwin
Robert S
RS
Chemistry and Drug Metabolism Section, National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Wilkins
Diana G
DG
Averin
Olga
O
Choo
Robin E
RE
Schroeder
Jennifer R
JR
Jasinski
Donald R
DR
Johnson
Rolley E
RE
Jones
Hendrée E
HE
Huestis
Marilyn A
MA
D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000819:agonists; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D002047:Buprenorphine; C043585:norbuprenorphine