Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Retrospective Descriptive Study Carried Out at the Toxicology Service of Bab El-Oued University Hospital between 2023 and 2025
International Journal of Medical Toxicology and Forensic Medicine,
Vol. 16 (2026),
1 January 2026
,
Page 1-8
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijmtfm.v16.52805
Abstract
Background: Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) comprises clinical manifestations resulting from the abrupt cessation of prenatal exposure to psychoactive substances. Although classically associated with opioids, increasing exposure to nonopioid substances has altered its epidemiological profile. Our goal is to characterize newborns referred for suspected NAS, identify the psychoactive substances involved, and evaluate the concordance between maternal history, neonatal clinical presentation, and toxicological findings.
Methods: We conducted a monocentric, retrospective descriptive study at the Toxicology Service of Bab El Oued University Hospital (Algiers) between January 2023 and December 2025. Newborns were included if they were investigated because of clinical signs, maternal history, or social risk factors. Data were collected from toxicology service registries, and urinary drug screening was performed in newborns and, when available, their mothers, using qualitative immunochromatographic assays.
Results: Seventy-five newborns were included, with a marked increase in annual cases over the study period. A male predominance was observed (sex ratio 1.70), and 50.7% were screened within the first 24 hours of life. Toxicological screening was positive in 60.0% of newborns. Pregabalin was the predominant substance, detected in 91.1% (41/45) of positive cases and as the sole agent in 64.4%. Polysubstance exposure occurred in 17.33% of cases, most commonly pregabalin combined with cocaine. Respiratory distress, tremors, hyperexcitability, and feeding difficulties were the most frequent clinical signs. In mother–newborn dyads with paired testing, toxicological findings contradicted or expanded maternal declarations in 57.1% (8/14) of cases.
Conclusion: Pregabalin was the substance most frequently detected among newborns investigated for suspected NAS in this Algerian cohort, suggesting a regional pattern that warrants confirmation in prospective, population-based studies.
- Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
- newborn
- pregabalin
- immunochromatographic assays
- Algeria
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References
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