Abstract
Caffeine therapy improved the pneumocardiogram (PCG) score of five infants identified to be at risk for sudden infant death syndrome. The patients (BW 1.89±0.95kg, GA 33±7 wks) were initially evaluated with the PCG at 37±5wks postconceptual age.Oral caffeine citrate was then administered with a loading dose of 20 mg/kg followed by a daily maintenance dose of 5mg/kg. A second PCG was done at 39±5wks postconceptual age, approximately 1 week after the start of therapy. Serum caffeine levels at this time ranged from 6.5 to 14ug/ml. The results of the comparison are shown below:
The PCG following caffeine therapy had significantly lower % PB, total apnea and total bradycardia events. Serum caffeine concentration did not correlate with any of the observed factors. No infant suffered any side effect of treatment. In this group of infants caffeine was effective in improving their performance on the pneumocardiogram.
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Marotta, F., Fort, M., Stile, I. et al. THE EFFECT OF CAFFEINE ADMINISTRATION ON THE PNEUMOCARDIOGRAM IN HIGH RISK INFANTS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 326 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01400
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01400