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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
19:15

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale

Published on: August 25, 2014

Drug misuse in pregnancy: losing sight of the baby?

L McGlone1, H Mactier, L T Weaver

  • 1Neonatal Unit, Princess Royal Maternity, 8-16 Alexandra Parade, Glasgow G31 2ER, UK. lauramcglone@doctors.org.uk

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|March 31, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Maternal drug misuse impacts infant health, potentially causing visual and neurodevelopmental issues. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) may help detect these adverse effects in newborns exposed to substances like methadone.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Health
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Maternal drug misuse poses significant risks to fetal and neonatal health, including prematurity, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), and neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
  • Emerging concerns highlight the impact of maternal substance use on infant visual development and long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Previous research indicates drug misuse alters the visual system, as evidenced by changes in visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in adults and animal models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the effects of maternal drug misuse on fetal and newborn health.
  • To specifically address the impact of maternal drug misuse on the developing infant visual system.
  • To discuss the potential utility of VEPs in assessing infants affected by maternal drug misuse.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review summarizing existing research on maternal drug misuse and infant outcomes.
  • Analysis of studies investigating visual evoked potentials (VEPs) in infants exposed to drugs in utero.
  • Discussion of the correlation between VEP abnormalities and visual/neurodevelopmental deficits.

Main Results:

  • Abnormal VEPs have been observed in newborns exposed to methadone during gestation, suggesting delayed visual development.
  • VEP abnormalities in infancy can predict later visual and neurodevelopmental abnormalities.
  • Maternal drug misuse is associated with changes in the visual system.

Conclusions:

  • The visual evoked potential (VEP) shows promise as a tool for detecting adverse effects of maternal drug misuse on infants.
  • Early detection of visual and neurodevelopmental issues through VEPs can facilitate timely interventions.
  • Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the role of VEPs in managing infants exposed to substances in utero.

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