title: Are there gender related differences in neonatal abstinence syndrome following exposure to buprenorphine during pregnancy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether infant gender influences the course of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) following exposure to buprenorphine during pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was performed in which maternal and infant data were collected for 46 male and 44 female infants. All infants were born to women enrolled in a buprenorphine treatment program from December 2007 until October 2012. Maternal and infant characteristics and outcomes were compared by infant gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Male infants had a significantly higher mean peak NAS score (10.04 vs. 7.98, P=0.028) and were more likely to require pharmacologic treatment for NAS (39.1% vs. 11.4%, P=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that, following exposure to buprenorphine during pregnancy, male infants experience a more severe withdrawal syndrome and are more likely to require pharmacologic treatment for NAS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA. aoconnor@mainegeneral.org
authors.forename: Alane B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Alto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009357:Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine