Ultrasound Evaluation of Brain Parenchyma in Preterm Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure

ObjectiveTo evaluate whether preterm infants with prenatal opioid exposure had differences in brain size on head ultrasounds (HUS) in comparison to non-exposed infants.Study designPreterm infants <= 34 weeks with prenatal opioid exposure (n = 47) and matched non-exposed infants (n = 62) with early HUSs were examined. Fifteen brain measurements were made and linear regression models performed to evaluate differences.ResultsBrain measurements were smaller in the right ventricular index [beta = -0.18 mm (95% CI -0.32, -0.03]), left ventricular index [beta = -0.04 mm (95% CI -0.08, -0.003)], left basal ganglia insula [beta = -0.10 mm (95% CI -0.15, -0.04)], right basal ganglia insula [beta = -0.08 mm (95% CI -0.14, -0.03)], corpus callosum fastigium length [beta = -0.16 mm (95% CI -0.25, -0.06)], intracranial height index [beta = -0.31 mm (95% CI -0.44, -0.18)], and transcerebellar measurements [beta = -0.13 (95% CI -0.25, -0.02)] in the opioid-exposed group.ConclusionsPreterm infants with prenatal opioid exposure have smaller brain sizes compared to non-exposed infants, potentially increasing their risk for neurodevelopmental abnormalities.