Caffeine: an evidence-based success story in VLBW pharmacotherapy.

摘要: Apnea of prematurity (AOP) is a common and pervasive problem in very low birth weight infants. Methylxanthines were reported >40 years ago to be an effective therapy and, by the early 2000s, caffeine had become preferred methylxanthine because its wide therapeutic index, excellent bioavailability, longer half-life. A clinical trial address unresolved questions toxicity concerns, completed 2004, confirmed significant benefits therapy, including shorter duration intubation respiratory support, reduced incidence chronic lung disease, decreased need for treatment patent ductus arteriosus, severity retinopathy prematurity, improved motor visual function. Cohort studies have now further delineated initiation before 3 days postnatal age, higher maintenance doses achieve incremental beneficial effects. This review summarizes pivotal particular most recent that established safety efficacy AOP other neurodevelopmental outcomes. Caffeine has favorable benefit-to-risk ratio, one prescribed cost-effective pharmacotherapies NICU.