Abstract
A retrospective clinical analysis was undertaken at NIH and St Louis U Dept. Peds. in 249 infants who presented with apnea at 0 to 9 mo. of age at the Cardinal Glennon Mem. Hosp. for Children, St Louis, from 12-1-74 to 12-31-82. The study was an attempt to assess whether or not Mg supplementation was beneficial. There were three groups: 201 premature and 26 term neonates, both with apnea neonatorum; and 22 infants (21 term), who first presented with apnea at 49.6±12 days of age. Of the 249 infants, 83 (about one-third) received a minimum course of magnesium (Mg) supplementation, and 167 did not. Mg was given IM as 50% MgSO4. 7H2O, 0.1 ml/kg body wt./day, usually for 5 days; or PO as 10% MgCl2·6H2O, 1 ml/kg/day, usually for 14 days. For purposes of analyzing the data, 5 days of Mg therapy by either route constituted a course for premature neonates, 4 days for others. All premature neonates had apnea, bradycardia, and cyanosis, and 90% had the respiratory distress syndrome; 61 were Mg-treated, 140 were not. More untreated premature neonates received theophylline to control apnea and/or bradycardia (P<0.0005). A follow-up study of all infants showed that Mg-untreated infants had more readmissions with apnea (P<0.0005) and bradycardia (P<0.0005) than Mg-treated. Some degree of respiratory distress was seen in 79%, and neurological findings, in 55% of the readmissions for apnea. Untreated infants had a higher incidence of gastro-esophageal reflux (P<0.0005). All Mg-treated infants survived; nine untreated infants died, three as crib deaths. Further evaluation of Mg in apnea of infancy can be strongly recommended.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Caddell, J. A RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTATION IN APNEIC INFANTS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 314 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01326
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-01326