Limitations of theophylline in the treatment of apnea of prematurity
M. E. Sims, G. Yau, S. Rambhatla, L. Cabal and P. Y. Wu
Theophylline is commonly used to treat apnea of prematurity. To determine
the effectiveness of theophylline with respect to gestational and postnatal
age, we conducted a controlled study in 43 premature infants with
idiopathic apnea. Three of the 21 treated and eight of the 22 control
infants developed respiratory failure. Eight of the 11 infants with
respiratory failure had gestational ages of less than 31 weeks and had more
than four apneic episodes during the first day of life. In the treated
infants without respiratory failure, the number of apneic episodes by
24-hour intervals declined six days earlier than in the control infants.
Apnea disappeared, however, at a similar time in both groups. Three treated
infants and three control infants had apneic episodes persisting beyond the
neonatal period. Patients treated with theophylline did not develop
respiratory failure as often as control infants did. However, despite a
reduction of apneic episodes, theophylline did not shorten the course of
apnea of prematurity.
