Neonatal abstinence scores in opioid-exposed and nonexposed neonates: a blinded comparison.
Twenty-nine opioid-exposed and 26 nonopioid-exposed neonates received neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) assessment by an examiner blinded to group status twice daily over the first two postnatal days. The opioid-exposed group had higher mean NAS scores than the nonopioid-exposed group. A 3-sign index, consisting of hyperactive moro reflex, mild tremors when undisturbed, and increased muscle tone, showed excellent discrimination between groups. The use of a 3-sign screening index in the days immediately after birth may provide a cost-effective mechanism for the identification of opioid-exposed infants, particularly in infants of women for whom identification of status as a substance user may not be immediately evident. Although a potentially useful screening tool, the 3-sign screening tool should not replace the full assessment of the opioid-exposed infant after birth.
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Hendrée E
HE
Jones
Cheryl
C
Harrow
Kevin E
KE
O'Grady
Michael
M
Crocetti
Lauren M
LM
Jansson
Karol
K
Kaltenbach
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy