Caffeine and cerebral blood flow velocity in preterm infants.
Continuous wave Doppler monitor was used to examine the effect on cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) of caffeine in 7 clinically stable preterm neonates suffering from apnea. Caffeine, as caffeine citrate at a loading dose of 20 mg.kg-1 BW, or saline were given intravenously. Every subject was his own control. Placebo (saline) was systematically injected prior to caffeine citrate. Simultaneous recording of heart rate, arterial blood pressure, respiratory rate, Tc PO2, and Tc PCO2 were made before, at the end of the injection, and 30, 60 and 120 min after the end of each administration of either placebo or caffeine. Compared with placebo, caffeine injection was not associated with significant changes in CBFV. An increase was found in both heart rate and respiratory rate (p less than 0.05). Mean arterial blood pressure, Tc PCO2 and Tc PO2 did not change significantly. Our data suggest that a caffeine citrate loading dose of 20 mg.kg-1 BW as currently used at the beginning of treatment of apnea in preterm neonates has no effect on CBFV.
Saliba
E
E
Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, INSERM U316, Tours, France.
Autret
E
E
Gold
F
F
Pourcelot
L
L
Laugier
J
J
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005865:Gestational Age; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012212:Rheology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
D002110:Caffeine