Increased DNA Methylation of ABCB1, CYP2D6, and OPRM1 Genes in Newborn Infants of Methadone-Maintained Opioid-Dependent Mothers.

Objective: To investigate whether in utero opioid exposure, which has been linked to adverse neurodevelopmental and social outcomes, is associated with altered DNA methylation of opioid-related genes at birth.

Study Design: Observational cohort study of 21 healthy methadone-maintained opioid-dependent mother-infant dyads consecutively delivered at >36 weeks of gestation, and 2 comparator groups: smoking, "deprived" opioid-naïve mother-infant dyads (n = 17) and nonsmoking, "affluent" opioid-naïve mother-infant dyads (n = 15). DNA methylation of ABCB1, CYP2D6, and OPRM1 genes for mothers and babies was determined from buccal swabs.

Variations in Infant CYP2B6 Genotype Associated with the Need for Pharmacological Treatment for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome in Infants of Methadone-Maintained Opioid-Dependent Mothers.

 Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in infants of methadone-maintained opioid-dependent (MMOD) mothers cannot be predicted in individual cases. We investigated whether variation in infant genotype is associated with severity of NAS.  This is a pilot observational cohort study of 21 MMOD mothers and their newborns.