Efficacy of caffeine citrate for treating primary apnea in premature infants

Abstract

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of caffeine citrate in the treatment of primary apnea in premature infants. Methods A non-randomized controlled trial had been designed in which 96 premature infants would be enrolled form Oct 2013 to Sep 2014 in our hospital.According to the therapeutic strategy, the patients were divided into treatment group(n=51) and control group(n=45). The treatment group was treated with caffeine citrate, and the control group was treated with placebo.The overall response rates and the complication rates in the two groups were compared. Results The effective rate of the treatment group was 80.4%(41/51), while the control group was 51.1%(23/45). There was a significant difference between the two groups(χ2=9.224, P=0.002). The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia(7 cases vs.14 cases), patent ductus arteriosus(7 cases vs.15 cases), retinopathy of prematurity(4 cases vs.10 cases), intraventricular hemorrhage(9 cases vs.20 cases), showed significant differences between the two groups(P<0.05). Conclusion Caffeine citrate is significantly more effective than placebo in reducing apnea episodes and reduces the rate of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, patent ductus arteriosus, retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage in premature infants. Key words: Caffeine citrate; Premature infants; Apnea