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RecruitingNCT03923374Mother/BabyOUDUpdated Dec 18, 2025

Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy in Long-Term Maternal/Infant Outcomes

An observational study in Opioid-use Disorder, Opioid Use, Unspecified and Buprenorphine Dependence, sponsored by Senthil Sadhasivam. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-18.

Sponsored by Senthil Sadhasivam · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
600
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

The objective of this study is to better understand the comprehensive integration of both clinical and genetic factors that will help to identify mothers who could be at an increased risk of poor response to opioid substitution and infants at risk of significant neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

Read the detailed description

One of the greatest impacts on maternal/infant health in the United States today is mother's who have opioid use disorder also known as OUD. This study will look at how in-utero buprenorphine also known as subutex, effects both mother/fetus in prenatal stages with MRI's, blood draws, and a series of assessments. After the neonate is born, there will be follow-up with that baby for up to 2 years with another neonatal MRI, blood draws and infant/child assessments. Planning to enroll 200 mothers who have opioid use disorder and 100 mothers with no previous opioid use.

02

Conditions studied

  • Opioid-use Disorder
  • Opioid Use, Unspecified
  • Buprenorphine Dependence

Keywords

  • Pregnant with Opioid Use Disorder
  • Opioid Use Disorder ( OUD)
  • Subutex
  • Buprenorphine
  • Pregnant taking buprenorphine/subutex
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Any woman of the age of 18 or older that is having a single pregnancy, and currently taking buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age greater 18 years
  • Currently taking Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder and enrolled in a prenatal opioid maintenance program in the antenatal clinic at IU Health University Hospital.
  • Pregnant with single baby
  • Planned delivery at Methodist, University or Riley Hospital

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Serious maternal medical illness as deemed by study physician or investigator.
  • Known or suspected major fetal/neonatal congenital abnormalities.
04

Study design

Observational model
Other
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
600 participants (estimated)
Target follow-up
2 Years
Patient registry
Yes
Biospecimen retention
Samples with dna

Groups and cohorts

  • Pregnant Mothers with Opioid Use Disorder

    Planned recruitment of 200 pregnant (\<16weeks) mothers who have opioid use disorder and are taking buprenorphine

    Drug: Subutex / Buprenorphine · Diagnostic Test: Fetal & Neonatal MRI · Diagnostic Test: DNA/Genetic/Pharmacokenetic Blood Draws

  • Pregnant Mothers

    Planned recruitment of 100 pregnant (\>16weeks) mothers who do not have any history of opioid use disorder.

    Diagnostic Test: Fetal & Neonatal MRI · Diagnostic Test: DNA/Genetic/Pharmacokenetic Blood Draws

Interventions

  • DrugSubutex / Buprenorphine

    Pregnant Mothers must be taking buprenorphine / subutex for opioid use disorder.

  • Diagnostic testFetal & Neonatal MRI

    Mothers who consent will be given a fetal MRI and after the baby is born, a neonatal MRI.

  • Diagnostic testDNA/Genetic/Pharmacokenetic Blood Draws

    Throughout the pregnancy, Mothers will be participating in blood collection throughout the study. At enrollment, we will collect DNA, Genetic and PK blood specimens, then throughout the study, we will be collecting random PK samples.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence of opioid misuse severity using assessments

    Incidence of opioid misuse severity and buprenorphine treatment response will be assessed by the treating physician using assessments such as Who Assist, TCU Motform, Adverse Childhood Experience Assessment, Ham-A and Ham-D.

    Time frame: 5 years

  2. Pharmacological treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome

    Incidence of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and need for pharmacological treatment.

    Time frame: 5 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of adverse effects of buprenorphine using MRI

    Incidence of adverse effects of buprenorphine use on fetal and placental changes using MRI.

    Time frame: 5 years

  2. Concentration of long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes using assessments

    Concentration of long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in neonates using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and the Baileys follow-up assessment.

    Time frame: 5 years

06

Study locations

1 of 1 sites recruiting
  • UPMC Children's Hospital
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15224, United States
    • Senthil M Sadhasivam, MD, MPH · Contact · sadhasivams@upmc.edu · 4126474484
    • Carly Riedmann, MPH · Contact · riedmannca@upmc.edu · 4126234147
    • Senthilkumar Sadhasivam, MD, MPH · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03923374
Lead sponsor
Senthil Sadhasivam
Collaborators
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Responsible party
Senthil Sadhasivam (Professor, University of Pittsburgh) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Apr 22, 2019
Start date
Sep 15, 2018
Primary completion
Dec 30, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 30, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Dec 18, 2025

Study contacts

Senthil Sadhasivam, MD, MPH
Contact
sadhasivams@upmc.edu
4126474484
Carly Riedmann, MPH
Contact
riedmannca@upmc.edu
4126234147
Senthil Sadhasivam, MD, MPH
principal investigator · University of Pittsburgh, UPMC

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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