Efficacy and mental development comparison of caffeine citrate and aminophylline for treating primary apnea in premature infants / 中国新生儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the mental development and efficacy of caffeine citrate and aminophylline in treating primary apnea in premature infants. Methods Preterm infants who were diagnosed as primary apnea, received caffeine citrate therapy and recovered in the neonatal ward of our Hospital from December 2013 to December 2014, and followed-up in the high-risk infants outpatient clinic of our Hospital after discharge were recruited in the caffeine group. Preterm infants of aminophylline group were recruited randomly by number method. They were diagnosed as primary apnea, received aminophylline therapy and recovered in our neonatal ward from December 2011 to December 2013, and followed-up regularly in the high-risk infants outpatient clinic of our Hospital after discharge. The treatment effect and mental development at 6 and 12 months of corrected age between the two groups were compared. Results Each group included 150 cases of premature infants. The time (h) of oxygen therapy, noninvasive mechanical ventilation, and invasive mechanical ventilation in the caffeine group were all significantly shorter than that in the aminophylline group [(119. 1 ± 100. 2) vs. (156. 5 ± 134. 1), (107. 4 ± 100. 2) vs. (156. 7 ± 139. 8), (146. 4 ± 122. 6) vs. (270. 9 ± 257. 2), P < 0. 05]. The incidence of patent ductus arteriosus and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the caffeine group were significantly lower than that in the aminophylline group (24. 0% vs. 45. 3% , 9. 3% vs. 21. 3% , P <0. 05). The scores of gross motor, fine motor and social intercourse in caffeine group were significantly higher than aminophylline group at 6 months of corrected age ( P < 0. 05). The scores of gross motor, fine motor, language and adaptability of infants at 12 months of corrected age from caffeine group were significantly higher than that of infants from aminophylline group ( P < 0. 05). Conclusions Caffeine citrate treatment of primary apnea in preterm infants is more effective than aminophylline. Caffeine citrate treatment can improve mental development of premature infants.