Lauren M. Jansson, MD

Primary Academic Title

Professor of Pediatrics

Background

Centers and Institutes

• Child & Community Health Research (CCHR), Center for
• Johns Hopkins Children's Center
• Substance Abuse Treatment and Research, Center for

Clinical Trial Keywords

drug exposed infant; neonatal abstinence syndrome; drug abuse in pregnancy; fetus; methadone

Research Interests

Fetal neurobehavioral development in drug exposed pregnancies

Research Summary

Dr. Jansson's research involves the fetuses, infants and children of drug-dependent mothers. She is the principal investigator of a NIDA-funded project that involves the evaluation of fetal and infant neurobehaviors after prenatal exposure to buprenorphine and other illicit and licit substances. The research seeks to determine the pathogenesis of neonatal abstinence syndrome—the constellation of signs and symptoms of withdrawal after birth in prenatally opioid exposed infants—in this group. 

Other projects include the evaluation of concentrations of buprenorphine and its metabolite in infant plasma, and breast milk and plasma of lactating women; fetal neurobehaviors in methadone- versus buprenorphine-exposed pregnancies; the effects of fetal gender on infant outcomes; and the effects of polysubstance use on fetal and infant neurobehaviors. 

Dr. Jansson's research has the overarching goal of optimizing evaluation and treatment for the vulnerable population of drug-dependent pregnant and postpartum women and their infants and children.

Selected Publications

• Agthe AG, Kim GR, Mathias KB, Hendrix CW, Chavez-Valdez R, Jansson L, Lewis TR, Yaster M, Gauda EB. “Clonidine as an adjunct therapy to opioids for neonatal abstinence syndrome: a randomized, controlled trial.” Pediatrics. 2009 May;123(5):e849-56. doi: 10.1542/peds.2008-0978. Epub 2009 Apr 27.

• Choo RE, Jansson LM, Scheidweiler K, Huestis MA. “A validated liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantification of methadone, 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP), and 2-ethly-5-methyl-3,3-diphenylpyroline (EDMP) in human breast milk.” Journal of Analytic Toxicology 2007;31:265-269.

• Crocetti MT, Amin DD, Jansson LM. “Variability in the Evaluation and Management of Opiate-Exposed Newborns in Maryland.” Clinical Pediatrics 2007;46(7)632-635.

• Jansson LM, Choo R, Velez ML, Harrow C, Schroeder JR, Shakleya DM, Huestis MA. “Methadone maintenance and breastfeeding in the neonatal period.” Pediatrics 2008;121(1):106-114.

• Jansson LM, Choo R, Velez ML, Lowe R, Huestis MA. “Methadone maintenance and long-term lactation.” Breastfeed Med. 2008 Mar;3(1):34-7. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2007.0032.

• Jansson LM, Choo RE, Harrow C, Velez M, Schroeder JR, Lowe R, Huestis M. “Concentrations of Methadone in Breast Milk and Plasma in the Immediate Perinatal Period.” Journal of Human Lactation 2007;23(2):184-190.

• Jansson LM, DiPietro JA, Elko A, Velez M. “Maternal vagal tone change in response to methadone is associated with neonatal abstinence syndrome severity in exposed neonates.” J of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine 2007;20(9):677-685.

• Jansson LM, Dipietro JA, Velez M, Elko A, Knauer H, Kivlighan KT. “Maternal methadone dosing schedule and fetal neurobehaviour.” J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2009 Jan;22(1):29-35. doi: 10.1080/14767050802452291.

   

• Jansson LM, Elko A, DiPietro J. “Fetal Response to Maternal Methadone Administration.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2005;193(3):611-617.

• Jansson LM, Svikis D, Lee J, Paluzzi P, Rutigliano P, Hackerman F. “Pregnancy and Addiction: A Comprehensive Care Model.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 1996;13(4): 321-329.

   

• Jansson LM, Svikis DS, Beilenson P. “Effectiveness of Child Case Management Services for Offspring of Drug Dependent Women.” Substance Use and Misuse 2003;38(14):1933-1952.

• Jansson LM, Svikis DS, Breon D, Cieslak R. “Intensity of Case Management Services: Does More = Better for Drug-Dependent Women and their Children?” Social Work in Mental Health 2004;3(4):63-78.

• Jansson LM, Svikis DS, Velez M, Fitzgerald E, Jones HE. “The Impact of Managed Care on Drug Dependent Pregnant and Postpartum Women and their Children.” Substance Use and Misuse 2007;42:1-14.

• Jansson LM, Velez M, Harrow C. “The opioid-exposed newborn: assessment and pharmacologic management.” J Opioid Manag. 2009 Jan-Feb;5(1):47-55. Review.

• Jansson LM, Velez M. “Understanding and Treating Substance Abusers and Their Infants.” Infants and Young Children 1999;1(4):79-89.

• Jansson LM, Velez ML, Harrow C. “Methadone Maintenance and Lactation: A Review of the Literature and Current Management Guidelines.” Journal of Human Lactation 2004; 20(1):62-71.

• Johnson RE, Jones HE, Jasinski DR, Svikis DS, Haug NA, Jansson LM, et al. “Buprenorphine Treatment of Opioid-Dependent Women: Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes.” Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2001;63:97-103.

• Jones HE, Johnson RE, Jasinski DR, OGrady KE, Chisolm CA, Choo RE, Crocetti M, Dudas R, Harrow C, Huestis MA, Jansson LM, et al. “Buprenorphine versus Methadone in the Treatment of Pregnant Opioid-Dependent Patients: Effects on the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.”  Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2005;79(1):110.

• Miles D, Lanni S, Jansson L, Svikis D. “Smoking and Illicit Drug Use during Pregnancy: Impact on Neonatal Outcome.” Journal of Reproductive Medicine 2006;51(7):567-572.

• Shakleya DM, Jansson LM, Huestis MA. “Validation of a LC-APCI-MS/MS Method for the Quantification of Methadone, 2-Ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) and 2-Ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenylpyraline (EMDP) in Infant Plasma Following Protein Precipitation.” Journal of Chromatography B 2007;856:267-272.

• Velez M, Jansson LM, Montoya I, Schweitzer W, Golden A, Svikis DS. “Parenting Knowledge among Substance Abusing Women in Treatment.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2004;27:215-222.

• Velez M, Jansson LM. “The Opioid dependent mother and newborn dyad: non-pharmacologic care.” J Addict Med. 2008 Sep;2(3):113-20. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0b013e31817e6105.

• Velez ML, Montoya ID, Jansson LM, Walters V, Svikis D, Jones HE, Chilcoat H, Campbell JC. “Exposure to Violence among Substance-Dependent Pregnant Women and their Children.” Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 2006;30:31-38.

Honors

• Best Immunization Practices Award, Maryland Bureau of Child Health and Immunization, 1/1/05
• Child Health Promotion Award, Maryland Childhood Immunization Partnership, 1/1/05

Memberships

• Academic Pediatric Association, Member
• College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Member
• Society for Pediatric Research, Member