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Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
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Apnea and its possible relationship to immunization in ex-premature infants

Peter A Cooper1, Shabir A Madhi, Robin E Huebner

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Vaccine
|May 21, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Infants hospitalized for apnea, particularly very low birth weight (VLBW) infants, showed more neurological issues. Some apnea cases in VLBW infants may be linked to vaccinations.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Vaccinology

Background:

  • Apnea is a common concern in preterm infants.
  • Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are at higher risk for complications.
  • The potential link between infant vaccinations and apnea requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the characteristics of infants hospitalized with apnea, focusing on VLBW infants.
  • To assess the incidence of neonatal neurological complications in VLBW infants with apnea.
  • To evaluate the possible association between infant immunization and the onset of apnea.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective comparison of infants hospitalized with apnea against two control groups: infants in a vaccine trial and consecutively born VLBW infants.
  • Analysis of birth weight, gestational age, and neonatal neurological complications.
  • Assessment of apnea onset timing relative to immunization in a subset of infants.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-three infants were hospitalized with apnea, predominantly VLBW infants (<1500 g) born preterm (<37 weeks gestation).
  • VLBW infants with apnea exhibited significantly more neonatal neurological complications than VLBW controls (p=0.005).
  • Ten out of eleven infants experiencing apnea within 72 hours of immunization were potentially vaccine-related.

Conclusions:

  • VLBW infants hospitalized with apnea present with increased rates of neurological complications.
  • A potential association exists between infant vaccination and the occurrence of apnea in VLBW infants.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the relationship between immunizations and apnea in vulnerable infant populations.

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