Abstract 695

Maternal use of narcotics may place their infants at risk for neurodevelopment delay. We hypothesized that exposure to daily, high dose methadone may pose an increased risk of an abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome in early infancy. Fifteen infants of mothers enrolled in a Methadone program have been enrolled to date in a study examining the effects of in utero methadone exposure on infant growth and neurodevelopmental outcome. Mean maternal methadone dose prior to delivery was 93±42 mg/day. The infants were matched for maternal age, Hollingshead SES score, birth weight and gestation with 15 infants with no history of in utero drug exposure. A third group of infants with in utero exposure to illicit narcotics, cocaine or both were also evaluated (n=12). Initial assessment at mean corrected age 2.5 mos included anthropometric measurements, complete neurological exam and developmental testing using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Results are shown: (Table)

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Post hoc analysis (Turkey HSD, Scheffe), reveals significant differences in head circumference and MDI between the control and methadone group. We conclude that infants with in utero exposure to methadone demonstrate a smaller head circumference and lower MDI at 2.5 months of age than both non-exposed infants and infants exposed to illicit narcotics and/or cocaine. Infants with both illicit drug exposure and methadone exposure are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Close follow-up with developmental intervention and social services are indicated for these children.