A clinical comparative study of efficacy and side effects of caffeine and aminophylline in apnea of prematurity– A Randomized Controlled trial

ZALAK SHAH; SONAL SHAH

Volume : V, Issue : IV, April - 2016

A clinical comparative study of efficacy and side effects of caffeine and aminophylline in apnea of prematurity– A Randomized Controlled trial

Zalak Shah, Sonal Shah

Abstract :

Recurrent apnea is a common problem in preterms. Two forms of methylxanthines (Caffeine and Aminophylline) have been used to prevent apnea. Objective: To compare the efficacy and immediate side effects of Caffeine with Aminophylline in apnea of prematurity Intervention: Randomized Controlled study done over a period of 1 year .60 Preterm neonates <36 weeks of gestational age who had apnea of prematurity received IV Caffeine (20mg/kg loading – 5mg/kg OD maintenance) or IV Aminophylline (5mg/kg loading–2mg/kg TDS maintenance) for control of apnea, done with randomization of alternate days. Results : Efficacy was defined as reduction in apneic rates by >50% than previous. There was found to be no difference between efficacy of caffeine and aminophylline in control of apneic episodes. But the side were more with Aminophylline than Caffeine. Conclusion: Caffeine is not only equally efficacious to Aminophylline but has lesser side effects with added advantages of once a day dosage, reliable enteral absorption and with wide therapeutic index