Comparing the Efficacy of Aminophylline and Caffeine in Treatment of Apnea of Prematurity; A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: The apnea of prematurity usually occurs at the end of the first week of life in premature infants. In most cases, apnea of premature infants occurs when they reach the appropriate age to be born. The present study aims to compare the effectiveness and adverse effects of caffeine with aminophylline on apnea of prematurity in infants. Methods: The present clinical trial has been conducted on ۶۴ premature infants. They were hospitalized in the NICU of Najmiyeh Hospital and divided into ۲ groups. ۳۰ infants received a loading dose of ۵mg/kg aminophylline followed by a maintenance dose of ۱.۵mg/kg ۳ times a day while ۳۴ infants received a loading dose of ۲۰ mg/kg caffeine followed by a maintenance dose of ۵mg/kg once a day. Clinical symptoms and complications of infants, mechanical ventilation time, length of stay and frequency of apnea during treatment were gathered. Results: Eventually ۶۴ premature infants were investigated (p=۰.۱۸۵). Mean of gestational age in infants who received caffeine (group A) was ۳۱.۲۷ weeks and in infants who received aminophylline (group B) was ۳۱.۰۷ weeks (p=۰.۸۰۶). The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was ۲.۷۸±۱.۴۳ days in group A infants. This was ۲.۵۷±۱.۵۳ in group B infants. .Mean duration of hospitalization was ۱۸.۴۲±۱۷.۱۸ days in group A and ۱۴.۵۰±۹.۸۶ days in group B (p=۰. ۵۸۲).there was no significant difference between caffeine and aminophylline in decreasing apnea attacks (p=۰.۴۲۸). Conclusion: There was no significant difference in decreasing apnea attacks, length of stay and mechanical ventilation time between the two groups.

کلیدواژه ها:

Aminophylline ، Caffeine ، Apnea of prematurity