Summary
This study evaluated the impact of prenatal opioid exposure on brain size in preterm infants using head ultrasounds (HUS). A total of 47 preterm infants (≤34 weeks of gestational age) with prenatal opioid exposure were matched with 62 non-exposed infants.
Fifteen brain measurements were obtained and analyzed using linear regression models. Results indicated that preterm infants with prenatal opioid exposure had smaller brain measurements in the right ventricular index, left ventricular index, left basal ganglia insula, right basal ganglia insula, corpus callosum fastigium length, intracranial height index, and transcerebellar measurements compared to non-exposed infants.
These findings suggest that prenatal opioid exposure may have detrimental effects on brain development in preterm infants, potentially increasing their risk of neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Further research is warranted to investigate the mechanisms underlying these effects and to develop interventions to mitigate their impact.
