title: Rapid eye movement sleep, apnea, and cardiac slowing influenced by phenobarbital administration in the neonate.
abstract: Polygraphic recordings were performed in seven preterm infants who had been given phenobarbital (phenobarbitone) to evaluate its effect on neonatal sleep behavior and on the incidence of neurogenic apnea and/or bradycardia. The amount of active sleep, as well as the incidence of apnea and/or cardiac slowing occurring predominantly in active sleep, were decreased at therapeutic serum levels of phenobarbital. With declining serum drug levels, active sleep showed a rebound effect; at the same time, apnea and/or cardiac slowing relapsed. Thus, our previously proposed neurophysiologic concept that neonatal apnea is facilitated by active sleep-inhibitory brain mechanisms seems to be confirmed.
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases; D008297:Male; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010634:Phenobarbital