MOM NEST Study: Maternal Opioid Medication: Naltrexone Efficacy Study

Pharmacokinetic analysis of maternal blood, maternal urine, cord blood, infant blood and urine for dyads in the naltrexone group at various time points in the pregnancy, at delivery, and 4 weeks postpartum.

Examination of the safety and efficacy of naltrexone and comparison of outcomes with the buprenorphine/naloxone cohort. Outcomes examined will include: 1) maternal outcomes (relapse, retention in care, preterm labor); 2) fetal outcomes (growth, fetal anomalies, fetal distress, cortisol levels); and 3) infant outcomes (NAS, growth, neurodevelopment via NNNS exam at 4 weeks and Bayley exam at 12 months of age).

Maternal blood and saliva DNA samples will be genotyped for single nucleotide polymorphisms in the mu opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) to look for associations with effectiveness of NTX and BPH. In addition, DNA methylation levels in the OPRM1 promoter within maternal and infant saliva and placenta at delivery and 4 weeks postpartum will be examined. Lastly, we will compare genome-wide DNA methylation levels at delivery and 4 weeks postpartum in mother-infant dyads.

Mothers in the naltrexone group will have their breast milk analyzed at 4 weeks post-delivery for naltrexone levels, with corresponding maternal and infant plasma levels.