Abstract
The recent use of methylxanthines in the treatment of apnea of prematurity and their possible efficacy in the prevention of hyaline membrane disease has underlined the need for detailed investigation of their disposition in the premature neonate. The metabolism of T was studied in 10 premature newborns(g.a. 27-35 wks) during the first month of life and in 3 adult volunteers for comparison. T was injected i.v. and blood and urine assayed for T, Caffeine (C) and their metabolites by HPLC. T was found to be methylated to C only in the preterm group. 1 Methyluric (1-MU) and 1-3 Dimethyluric (1,3-DMU) acids were the major metabolites of T in the newborn. Demethylation to 3 Methylxanthine (3-MX) was seen only in the adults. The molar ratios of the metabolites in urine are reported in the table:
This study confirms the possibility of a methylative pathway from T to C in the newborn, but not in the adult. Hydroxylation accounted for about 90% of T metabolism in the premature neonate, while N-demethylation was absent at birth. This finding is in contrast to what seen for other drugs (e.g. diazepam).
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Bonati, M., Latini, R. & Marra, G. THEOPHYLLINF (T) METABOLISM IN THE PREMATURE NEONATE: 65. Pediatr Res 14, 176 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198002000-00092
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198002000-00092
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