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Apneic preterms and methylxanthines: arousal deficits, sleep fragmentation and suppressed spontaneous movements

Journal of Perinatology volume 27, pages 782–789 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To determine if apneic preterm infants currently treated with methylxanthines develop evidence of sleep deprivation from cumulative arousal and motor activational effects.

Study Design:

Sleep, wake, arousal and actigraphic movements were monitored in extubated clinically stable premature infants (N=37). Neonates were free of other medications for >72 h and were grouped based on methylxanthine exposure: >5 days with caffeine (n=14), >5 days theophylline (n=13) or no prior exposure (n=10).

Result:

Duration of methylxanthine treatment predicted increased arousals, wakefulness and actigraphic movements, and decreased active sleep. Recording from 1200 to 0500 hours, methylxanthine-treated groups showed reductions in all arousal parameters: waking state, number of wake epochs, brief arousals and composite arousal index, and shorter fast-burst, sleep-related motility than untreated controls.

Conclusion:

In apneic preterms, chronic methylxanthine treatment appears to produce sleep deprivation secondary to the stimulatory action of methylxanthines on arousal and motor systems.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, ME, USA and the University of Maine Office for Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA

    M J Hayes, M Fukumizu, A A Gilles, B A Sallinen, M Troese & J A Paul

  2. Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health, Eastern Maine Health Care, Brewer, ME, USA

    M J Hayes, M Fukumizu, A A Gilles, M Troese & J A Paul

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, ME, USA

    M J Hayes & M R Akilesh

  4. Department of Child Neurology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan

    M Fukumizu

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  1. M J Hayes
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  2. M R Akilesh
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Correspondence to M J Hayes.

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Hayes, M., Akilesh, M., Fukumizu, M. et al. Apneic preterms and methylxanthines: arousal deficits, sleep fragmentation and suppressed spontaneous movements. J Perinatol 27, 782–789 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211820

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jp.7211820

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