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Elizabeth E. Krans, MD, MSc

Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Pregnant women with substance use disorders often face profound social, economic and physical challenges which require a multi-faceted approach to healthcare delivery. Our work focuses on developing interventions that account for these complexities and capitalize on the inherent desire during pregnancy to improve health-related behaviors.
Elizabeth E. Krans, MD, MSc

Research in Brief

Dr Krans’ research examines the relationship between obstetric health care utilization and maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with psychosocial risk factors such as substance abuse.

Specific areas of research include:

  • Improving health care delivery to pregnant women with opioid use disorder.
  • Improving the risk assessment process in prenatal care to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of prenatal care delivery for women with multiple psychosocial risk factors.
  • Evaluating the implementation and dissemination of new, evidence-based prenatal care models and policies into clinical practice.
IMPACT

Comparing effectiveness of web-based reproductive planning decision support tool to standard of care information for prenatal and postpartum women with substance use disorders.

OPTIMIZE

Evaluating the impact of integrated behavioral health treatment with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in the perinatal period.  

MOMI+

MOMI+ is an extension of the MOMI Biobank that specifically recruits pregnant people with substance exposure. The purpose of this biobank is to develop a repository of specimens with documented substance exposure for future research.  

HOPE

This study seeks to understand the impact of substance exposure on placental and infant development through the collection of biospecimens and self-reported substance use data.  

STEPuP

This study will test the effectiveness of a prenatal provider education and training program designed to facilitate provider adoption of evidence-based practices for the treatment of OUD during pregnancy. Findings from this research will provide high-quality evidence about how to increase evidence-based treatment for pregnant women with OUD and subsequent maternal-child health outcomes.  

Recovery Registry

This is an ongoing research registry for individuals interested in substance use related research opportunities. 

1. Donahoe JT, Brown-Podgorski BL, Gaire S, Krans EE, Jarlenski M. Advanced Child Tax Credit Monthly Payments and Substance Use Among US Parents. JAMA Health Forum. 2025 Jan 3;6(1):e244699. doi: 10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.4699. PMID: 39752172; PMCID: PMC11699525.


2. Chappell CA, Kiser JJ, Brooks KM, Randolph R, Macio IS, Meyn LA, MaWhinney S, Rick AM, Muniz GB, Kwon KM, Letterio C, Naik S, Kreter B, Bunge KE, Krans EE, Hillier SL. Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Efficacy in Pregnant People with Hepatitis C Virus. Clin Infect Dis. 2024 Dec 17:ciae595. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciae595. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39688397.


3. Alshogran OY, Zhao W, Krans EE, Caritis S, Shaik IH, Venkataramanan R. An Approach for Improving the Detection and Quantitation of Buprenorphine and Its Metabolites in Maternal and Neonatal Hair. Ther Drug Monit. 2024 Dec 13. doi: 10.1097/FTD.0000000000001291. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39671206.


4. Jarlenski M, LoCiganic WH, Chen Q, Pudasainy S, Donohue JM, Cole ES, Krans EE. Association between buprenorphine dose and outcomes among pregnant persons with opioid use disorder. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Dec 6:S0002-9378(24)01178-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.12.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39647655.


5. Hull I, Jawa R, Shang M, Davis C, King C, McMurtrie G, Krans EE. Implications of xylazine exposure in pregnancy: a narrative review. J Addict Dis. 2024 Aug 21:1-8. doi: 10.1080/10550887.2024.2391156. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39166266.


6. Guyon-Harris KL, Krans EE, Gill A, Karnosh C, Shaw DS. Supporting positive parenting among pregnant people in recovery from opioid use disorder: Introducing family check‐up–prenatal. Infant Ment Health J. 2024 Aug 8. English. doi: 10.1002/imhj.22132. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39118311.


7. Winhusen TJ, Kropp F, Greenfield SF, Krans EE, Lewis D, Martin PR, Gordon AJ, Davies TH, Wachman EM, Douaihy A, Parker K, Xin X, Jalali A, Lofwall MR. Trauma Prevalence and Its Association With Health-Related Quality of Life in Pregnant Persons with Opioid Use Disorder. J Addict Med. 2024 Aug 6. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001366. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39105509.


8. Frankeberger J, Coulter RWS, Jarlenski M, Krans EE, Mair C. Co-occurring conditions during pregnancy and hospitalizations in the first year postpartum among persons with opioid use disorder. Prev Med. 2024 Aug;185:108057. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.108057. Epub 2024 Jun 26. PMID: 38942123; PMCID: PMC11421478.


9. Zhao W, Alshogran OY, Zhang H, Joshi A, Krans EE, Caritis S, Shaik IH, Venkataramanan R. Simplified processing and rapid quantification of buprenorphine, norbuprenorphine, and their conjugated metabolites in human plasma using UPLC-MS/MS: Assessment of buprenorphine exposure during opioid use disorder treatment. J Mass Spectrom. 2024 Apr;59(4):e5015. doi: 10.1002/jms.5015. PMID: 38501738.


10. Lim G, Xue L, Donohue JM, Junker S, Wilson JD, Suffoletto B, Lynch MJ, Pacella-LaBarbara ML, Chang CH, Krans EE, Jarlenski M. Associations between acute pain after vaginal delivery and postpartum opioid prescription fills: a retrospective case-controlled study. Br J Anaesth. 2024 May;132(5):978-981. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2024.01.038. Epub 2024 Feb 29. PMID: 38423825.

For additional publications, visit Pubmed.
 

Ellen Stewart, BS Clinical Research Coordinator
Maya Patterson Clinical Research Assistant
Candace Drzik Research Assistant
Danaia Winbush, BS Research Assistant
Samantha Mayo, BA Regulatory Affairs Coordinator
Walitta Abdullah Research Principal
Kathleen Smith Administrative Supervisor
Maria Strish Senior Clinical Research Assistant

Dec 3, 2024
MWRI Faculty Members Receive Over $18 Million in Latest Round of NIH Grants

Oct 31, 2024
Pregnant women and babies face 'terrifying' threat from xylazine addiction

Oct 27, 2024
Local Pregnancy Recovery Center Ramps Up Addiction Support

Oct 27, 2024
Pregnancy & recovery: Local programs amp up addiction support

May 19, 2021
After Learning to Care for Herself, Cambria King Launched a Career Caring for Others

Jan 18, 2020
Magee's Pregnancy Recovery Center

Dec 3, 2019
Dr. Elizabeth E. Krans quoted in story on how punishing pregnant women for opioid use leads to more birth complications

Oct 14, 2019
A mother's recovery story relies on new brand of medical relationship

Jul 19, 2019
Dr. Elizabeth E. Krans quoted in story on new consensus bundle on obstetric care for women with opioid use disorder

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