%0 Journal Article
%T Intrauterine exposure to maternal opioid maintenance treatment and associated risk factors may impair child growth.
%A Kanervo M
%A Luoto L
%A Tupola S
%A Nikkola E
%A Kahila H
%A Rantakari K
%J Acta Paediatr
%V 113
%N 7
%D 2024 Jul 8
%M 38456564
%F 4.056
%R 10.1111/apa.17198
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>How maternal opioid maintenance treatment (OMT) affects children is under-researched. This population-based registry study investigated child growth and somatic health following intrauterine exposure to this treatment.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Children born between 1 March 2011 and 30 May 2021 to mothers who used buprenorphine, buprenorphine-naloxone, or methadone throughout their pregnancies were followed for 2 years at the Helsinki University Hospital, Finland. Appropriate statistical tests were used to compare the treatment groups.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Of the 67 neonates, 52% were male, 96% were born full-term and 63% were treated for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Otherwise, the children were predominantly healthy, although relatively small: 22% were small for gestational age, the methadone group children being the smallest. Foetal exposure to maternal methadone treatment, illicit drugs, hepatitis C and smoking were associated with small for gestational age; the former two were also associated with later slower growth, especially head growth and weight gain (p < 0.001). However, 29% were overweight at 2 years.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Using child growth as the outcome, we found that buprenorphine-naloxone and buprenorphine-monotherapy had equal effects as forms of maternal OMT. Exposure to multiple risk factors may harm foetal and subsequent growth. We recommend long-term follow-up of children exposed to maternal OMT.