Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Opioid-Exposed versus Nonexposed Mother-Infant Dyads.

Abstract

To pilot measurement of hair cortisol concentration (HCC) in pregnant women with opioid use disorder and their infants over time and study the potential utility of hair cortisol as a biomarker of chronic stress in this population. In this pilot prospective cohort study of mother-infant dyads with and without prenatal opioid exposure, we obtained mother-infant HCCs at delivery and again within 1 to 3 months' postpartum. HCCs were compared between the opioid and control groups and between the two time points. There were no significant differences between opioid and control group maternal or infant HCCs at either time point. However, within the opioid-exposed group, there was a significant increase in infant HCCs across the two time points. This pilot study describes our experience with the measurement of HCCs in opioid-exposed mother-infant dyads. · Maternal stress impacts fetal and child health.. · Many stressors in pregnant women with opioid use disorder.. · Hair cortisol may be a useful stress biomarker..