Magnetocardiographic identification of prolonged fetal corrected QT interval in women receiving treatment for opioid use disorder

Abstract

Aim Pregnant women undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) may be exposed to multiple QT prolonging agents. We used magnetocardiography to measure fetal QT intervals in mothers with OUD on buprenorphine therapy. Methods Fetal and maternal magnetocardiography was performed in pregnant women receiving buprenorphine‐assisted treatment (Disorder group); these were matched by gestational age to pregnant women who were opiate naïve (Reference group). Corrected QT intervals were determined using Bazett's formula and compared between groups. Results A total of eight women in the Disorder group matched to eight in the Reference group. Seven of the mothers (88%) in the Disorder group were smokers; there were no smokers in the Reference group. The average fetal corrected QT was significantly longer (P = 0.022) in the Disorder group than that in the Reference group (505 milliseconds [ms] ± 68.6 [standard deviation] vs 383 ms ± 70.3 [standard deviation]). Conclusion Novel data from this small sample demonstrate prolongation of fetal corrected QT in women with OUD participating in buprenorphine assisted therapy. Additional investigation from a larger sample is needed to clarify if fetal buprenorphine and/or tobacco exposure is associated with changes in fetal QT which would warrant further prenatal and postnatal testing.

Dynamics of the use of magnetocardiography in the study of the cardiac conduction system of the chick embryo

“…Also, having an easy and noninvasive means of studying the cardiac conduction system in an animal model may facilitate research in the field of fetal/embryonic medication and drug effects during pregnancy. Specifically, in opioid use disorder significant fetal cardiac conduction abnormalities have recently been identified (Bolin et al, 2019).…”