title: Dopamine D2 receptor gene polymorphisms in newborn infants of drug-using women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the characteristics of dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) polymorphisms in drug-exposed and unexposed neonates and the relationship to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case-control analysis between drug-exposed and unexposed infants between DRD2 polymorphisms, drug exposure and NAS treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Drug-exposed (n=48) and drug-free (n=49) infants born between March 1999 and December 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of DNA for the Taq1A, -141Ins/Del and Ser311Cys DRD2 polymorphisms. Drug exposure was determined by antenatal maternal drug and alcohol history. Frequency measures of DRD2 polymorphisms were compared between drug-exposed infants, treatment NAS medication and with control infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary maternity hospital, Sydney, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  All infants were born in a good condition (25.7% <37 weeks gestation). Opiates (methadone and heroin) were used by 45 (93.8%) of drug-exposed mothers. The A2A2 allele was more common in drug-exposed infants (37 (77.0%) versus 23 (46.9%), p=0.003) but the A1A2 allele was more common in control infants (23 (46.9%) versus 4 (8.3%), p=0.00002). The-ins allele was more common in control (39 (79.6%) versus 20 (41.7%), p=<0.01) and unmedicated drug-exposed (14/25 (56%) versus 5/23 (21.7%), p=0.02) infants. The majority of infants (41 (83.7%) controls versus 41 (85.4%), p=1.000) expressed the least common, Ser polymorphism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DRD2 polymorphisms are detectable from DNA obtained from stored blood spots. The -ins allele is more common in control and unmedicated drug-exposed infants. Further study is recommended to explore postneonatal outcomes especially in relation to neuropsychiatric behaviours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Newborn Care, The Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick, Australia. j.oei@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: Ju Lee
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Oei
authors.forename: Hong Xiu
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Mohamed E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Abdel-Latif
authors.forename: Krishna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vunnam
authors.forename: Adil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Amry
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clews
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Falconer
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lui
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017448:Receptors, Dopamine D2; D004247:DNA