Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
11:50

Clinical Practice Protocol of Creative Music Therapy for Preterm Infants and Their Parents in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Published on: January 7, 2020

28.6K

Early caffeine therapy for prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants

Dalal Taha1, Sharon Kirkby, Ursula Nawab

  • 1Division of Pediatrics/Neonatology, Thomas Jefferson University/Nemours , Philadelphia, PA , USA .

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|February 1, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Early caffeine administration in preterm infants improves survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). While beneficial for respiratory outcomes, early caffeine use may increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a significant cause of morbidity in preterm infants.
  • Caffeine is commonly used to treat apnea of prematurity and may have other benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early caffeine commencement and survival without BPD in preterm infants.
  • To evaluate other neonatal outcomes related to early caffeine use.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of the Alere Neonatal Database.
  • Inclusion criteria: infants weighing ≤1250g, treated with caffeine within the first 10 days of life.
  • Comparison of outcomes between early (0-2 days) and delayed (3-10 days) caffeine initiation.

Main Results:

  • Early caffeine use was linked to a reduction in BPD (OR 0.69) and BPD or death (OR 0.77).
  • Improved respiratory outcomes, reduced severe intraventricular hemorrhage and patent ductus arteriosus, and shorter hospitalization were observed with early caffeine.
  • An increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) was associated with early caffeine (OR 1.41).

Conclusions:

  • Early caffeine commencement in preterm infants is associated with improved survival without BPD.
  • The increased risk of NEC with early caffeine warrants further investigation.
Abstract

Keywords:
BPDNECneonatesprematurexanthine

More Related Videos

Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol19:32

Preterm EEG: A Multimodal Neurophysiological Protocol

Published on: February 18, 2012

30.6K
Intratracheal Instillation of Stem Cells in Term Neonatal Rats04:27

Intratracheal Instillation of Stem Cells in Term Neonatal Rats

Published on: May 4, 2020

5.4K

Related Concept Videos

Chest Physiotherapy01:24

Chest Physiotherapy

Chest Physiotherapy (CPT) is a therapeutic technique used in respiratory care to improve ventilation, clear bronchial secretions, and enhance the efficiency of respiratory muscles. This therapy includes three primary procedures: postural drainage, percussion, and vibration. It can be performed on spontaneously breathing patients and those who are intubated and mechanically ventilated.
Purpose
CPT is primarily used for patients with excessive bronchial secretions who have difficulty clearing...
2.9K
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids01:26

COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids

Chronic obstructive pulmonary isease (COPD) involves a group of progressive lung disorders characterized by persistent airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms. Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACOS), encompassing features of both asthma and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is a group of progressive lung disorders that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and refractory (non-reversible) asthma. ACOS leads to complex clinical presentations that combine the inflammatory...
1.2K
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics01:23

Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics

Respiratory symptoms, such as congestion and cough, commonly accompany respiratory tract conditions. Various medications, such as antitussives, expectorants, and mucolytics, play crucial roles in providing relief.
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla.  Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by...
1.8K
Antiasthma Drugs: Methylxanthines01:24

Antiasthma Drugs: Methylxanthines

Theophylline, a member of the methylxanthine class of bronchodilators, has long been used in asthma management. While its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, it is believed to have multiple effects on various cellular processes.
Theophylline is thought to inhibit phosphodiesterase enzymes, increasing intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This rise in cAMP and cGMP concentrations stimulates cardiac function,...
2.0K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
408
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
410