Prevention of apnea and bradycardia in low-birthweight infants.
The efficacy of theophylline in preventing severe apnea was evaluated in 17 low-birthweight infants (mean weight, 1,400 gm).  Apnea was detected and accurately quantified by 13-hour pneumogram recordings and correlated with serum theophylline levels.  Nursing observations coupled with on-line alarm systems detected only 39% of severe apneic episodes as compared to the pneumogram recording technique.  Theophylline in six hourly oral doses(1.5 to 4.0 mg/kg) yielded two-hour serum concentrations of 6.6 to 11.0 mug/ml which completely controlled apneic spells exceeding 20 seconds in duration and markedly reduced 10- 19-second apneic episodes and any resultant bradycardia.  At these serum levels, toxicity was not observed.  Therapy with theophylline should be instituted at a dose of 2 to 3 mg/kg every six hours and the optimum therapeutic dose should be individualized as determined by objective quantitation of apnea and serum theophylline concentration.
D001049:Apnea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001724:Birth Weight; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010313:Partial Pressure; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013806:Theophylline; D010100:Oxygen