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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

Pharmacologic management of the opioid neonatal abstinence syndrome

Walter K Kraft1, John N van den Anker

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, 1170 Main Building, 132 South 10th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Walter.Kraft@jefferson.edu

Pediatric Clinics of North America
|October 6, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Opioid use during pregnancy leads to neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in newborns. Emerging treatments for NAS include buprenorphine and outpatient care, aiming to improve infant outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) research
  • Maternal-fetal medicine
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Opioid use in pregnant women has risen significantly.
  • Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is a consequence of in utero opioid exposure.
  • Most infants with NAS require pharmacologic treatment and prolonged hospitalization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current treatment approaches for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS).
  • To highlight emerging trends in NAS management.
  • To address the lack of high-quality clinical trial data guiding NAS therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature and emerging treatment strategies for NAS.
  • Analysis of trends in pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions.
  • Discussion of pharmacogenetic approaches to risk stratification.

Main Results:

  • Significant heterogeneity exists in current NAS treatment protocols.
  • Sublingual buprenorphine is an emerging pharmacologic option.
  • Transitioning to outpatient therapy and pharmacogenetic risk stratification are key trends.

Conclusions:

  • Optimizing NAS treatment requires further high-quality clinical research.
  • Novel therapeutic strategies like buprenorphine and outpatient care show promise.
  • Personalized medicine approaches, including pharmacogenetics, may refine NAS management.

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