Caffeine Therapy for Apnoea of Prematurity in Very Low-Birthweight Infants

Barbara Schmidt; Arne Ohlsson; Peter G. Davis

doi:10.7707/hmj.v5i3.190

Article Details

Caffeine Therapy for Apnoea of Prematurity in Very Low-Birthweight Infants

Authors:

Barbara Schmidt | Arne Ohlsson | Peter G. Davis

Publisher:

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

Hamdan Medical Journal 2012 vol.5 Issue 3, pp.345-349

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2012

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

47552

Frequency:

Tri-Annual

eISSN:

2227247X

pISSN:

22272437

DOI:

10.7707/hmj.v5i3.190

Descriptors:

Abstract:

 Caffeine and other methylxanthines have been used to treat apnoea ofprematurity for over 30 years. However, until recently, experimental evidenceof the potential harm and lack of rigorous evaluation of this drug therapy incontrolled clinical trials resulted in substantial uncertainty about the safetyof the routine use of methylxanthines in preterm infants. The internationalCaffeine for Apnoea of Prematurity (CAP) trial group was formed in 1998.This collaborative research team enrolled over 2000 very low-birthweightinfants in North America, Australia and Europe, and followed the childrento the end of their second year of life. The CAP trial investigators showed forthe first time that neonatal caffeine therapy reduces the rates of importantshort- and long-term morbidities such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia,severe retinopathy of prematurity, cerebral palsy and cognitive delay. Of allthe neonatal treatments that have been subjected to economic evaluations,caffeine therapy is the most certain to be both cost saving and beneficial. Itis therefore imperative that responsible drug manufacturers make safe andaffordable formulations of caffeine available worldwide.

Article Details

Caffeine Therapy for Apnoea of Prematurity in Very Low-Birthweight Infants

Authors:

Barbara Schmidt | Arne Ohlsson | Peter G. Davis

Publisher:

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

Hamdan Medical Journal 2012 vol.5 Issue 3, pp.345-349

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2012

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

47552

Frequency:

Tri-Annual

eISSN:

2227247X

pISSN:

22272437

DOI:

10.7707/hmj.v5i3.190

Descriptors:

PREMATURITY

CAFFEINE

BIRTH WEIGHT

NEWBORNS

INFANTS

THERAPY

Issues

Article Details

Caffeine Therapy for Apnoea of Prematurity in Very Low-Birthweight Infants

Authors: Barbara Schmidt | Arne Ohlsson | Peter G. Davis

Publisher: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences

Main Topics: Medicine

Journal: Hamdan Medical Journal 2012 vol.5 Issue 3, pp.345-349

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 12/2012

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 47552

Frequency: Tri-Annual

eISSN: 2227247X

pISSN: 22272437

DOI: 10.7707/hmj.v5i3.190

Descriptors:

PREMATURITY

CAFFEINE

BIRTH WEIGHT

NEWBORNS

INFANTS

THERAPY

Issues

Authors:

Barbara Schmidt | Arne Ohlsson | Peter G. Davis

Publisher:

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences

Main Topics:

Medicine

Journal:

Hamdan Medical Journal 2012 vol.5 Issue 3, pp.345-349

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

12/2012

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

47552

Frequency:

Tri-Annual

eISSN:

2227247X

pISSN:

22272437

DOI:

10.7707/hmj.v5i3.190