Visual evoked potentials in infants exposed to methadone in utero

McGlone, L., Mactier, H., Hamilton, R. , Bradnam, M.S. , Boulton, R., Borland, W., Hepburn, M. and McCulloch, D.L. (2008) Visual evoked potentials in infants exposed to methadone in utero. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 93(9), pp. 784-786. (doi: 10.1136/adc.2007.132985) (PMID:18305073)

Abstract

We investigated the effects of maternal drug misuse on neonatal visual evoked potentials (VEPs). Flash VEPs were recorded within 4 days of birth from 21 term infants of mothers misusing drugs and prescribed substitute methadone and 20 controls. Waveforms were classified as typical, atypical, immature or non-detectable, and amplitude and latencies were measured. VEPs from drug-exposed infants were less likely to be of typical waveform and more likely to be immature or non-detectable (p<0.01) than those of control infants. They were also smaller in amplitude (median 10.8 vs 24.4 μV, p<0.001). VEPs of drug-exposed infants had matured after 1 week but remained of lower amplitude than VEPs of newborn controls (p<0.01) and were non-detectable in 15%. Flash VEPs differ between maternal drug-exposed and non-drug-exposed newborns. Future research should address the specific effects of maternal methadone and/or other illicit drug misuse on infant VEPs, and associations between neonatal VEPs and subsequent visual development.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: MacTier, Dr Helen and Hamilton, Dr Ruth and Boulton, Dr Richard and Bradnam, Dr Michael and Hepburn, Mrs Marina
• Authors: McGlone, L., Mactier, H., Hamilton, R., Bradnam, M.S., Boulton, R., Borland, W., Hepburn, M., and McCulloch, D.L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
• Journal Name: Archives of Disease in Childhood
• Journal Abbr.: Arch. Dis. Child.
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• ISSN: 0003-9888
• ISSN (Online): 1468-2044
• Published Online: 27 February 2008