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Brandal M1, Evensen KAI2, Brubakk A-M2,3, Vågen RT1, Ustad T1, Adde L1,2, Fjørtoft T1,2
1Clinics of Clinical Services, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway, 2Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Trondheim, Norway, 3St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Trondheim, Norway
Background: Using drugs and alcohol in pregnancy is a well-documented risk factor for later neurological impairment in the offspring.
Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the quality of the motor repertoire in infants born at term after having been exposed to drugs, alcohol and medicaments in pregnancy.
Methods: Video recordings at mean 52.8(±1.0) weeks post term age of 60 drugs exposed infants was assessed, with mean birth weight 3223.8(±691.3) grams and gestational age 38.9(±2.0). “Assessment of Motor Repertoire 3-5 months”, which is part of Prechtl's “General Movement Assessment” (GMA), was used. FMs were classified as normal if present and abnormal if absent, sporadic or exaggerated. The quality of the overall movement character was classified as normal if smooth and fluent and abnormal if monotonous, stiff, jerky and/or predominantly fast or slow speed.
Results: Five (8.3%) of the 60 infants had abnormal FMs (2 sporadic and 3 exaggerated). The overall movement character was normal in 22(37%) infants and abnormal in 38 infants (63%). Among 55 infants with normal FMs the movement character was abnormal in 37 infants (67%) in contrast to 20% in 87 normal unexposed infants born at term reported in a recent study.
Conclusion(s): More than half of the infants exposed to drugs and alcohol in pregnancy had an abnormal quality of the overall movement character at 12 weeks post-term age. If this is a transitional phenomenon related to drugs in pregnancy or an indicator of later neurological impairment needs to be clarified in follow up studies.
Implications: It is of great importance to have good methods to reveal neurodevelopmental problems at an early stage to start appropriate intervention. Such methods should make it possible to identify the infants at risk instead of treating all as a group. It is also important to have methods to reassure the parents of low risk for developmental impairment.
Keywords: Infants exposed to drugs and alcohol in pregnancy, General movement assessment, motor repertoire
Funding acknowledgements: St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway.
Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the quality of the motor repertoire in infants born at term after having been exposed to drugs, alcohol and medicaments in pregnancy.
Methods: Video recordings at mean 52.8(±1.0) weeks post term age of 60 drugs exposed infants was assessed, with mean birth weight 3223.8(±691.3) grams and gestational age 38.9(±2.0). “Assessment of Motor Repertoire 3-5 months”, which is part of Prechtl's “General Movement Assessment” (GMA), was used. FMs were classified as normal if present and abnormal if absent, sporadic or exaggerated. The quality of the overall movement character was classified as normal if smooth and fluent and abnormal if monotonous, stiff, jerky and/or predominantly fast or slow speed.
Results: Five (8.3%) of the 60 infants had abnormal FMs (2 sporadic and 3 exaggerated). The overall movement character was normal in 22(37%) infants and abnormal in 38 infants (63%). Among 55 infants with normal FMs the movement character was abnormal in 37 infants (67%) in contrast to 20% in 87 normal unexposed infants born at term reported in a recent study.
Conclusion(s): More than half of the infants exposed to drugs and alcohol in pregnancy had an abnormal quality of the overall movement character at 12 weeks post-term age. If this is a transitional phenomenon related to drugs in pregnancy or an indicator of later neurological impairment needs to be clarified in follow up studies.
Implications: It is of great importance to have good methods to reveal neurodevelopmental problems at an early stage to start appropriate intervention. Such methods should make it possible to identify the infants at risk instead of treating all as a group. It is also important to have methods to reassure the parents of low risk for developmental impairment.
Keywords: Infants exposed to drugs and alcohol in pregnancy, General movement assessment, motor repertoire
Funding acknowledgements: St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway.
Topic: Paediatrics; Neurology
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway
Ethics committee: REC,Mid- Norway
Ethics number: 2017/2369
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
