Oral versus intramuscular loading of caffeine in idiopathic apnoea of prematurity.
The loading dose of caffeine (15 mg/kg) was administered orally to nine newborn babies and intramuscularly to nine others. The oral maintenance dose (2 mg/kg per day) was administered 24 h after the loading dose and then once a day for as long as necessary. The two groups were statistically similar with regard to gestational age, birth weight and Apgar score at 1 and 5 min. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in serum levels of caffeine at 1, 12 or 24 h and 7, 14 or 21 days. Therefore, oral administration appears to be the better route for loading, as it is effective and non-traumatic. Moreover, low maintenance doses allow therapeutic serum levels to be kept to a minimum reducing the likelihood of side-effects.
Cattarossi
L
L
Department of Neonatology, Ospedale Civile di Udine, Italy.
Colacino
V
V
Janes
A
A
LoGreco
P
P
Rubini
S
S
Zilli
M
M
Macagno
F
F
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001049:Apnea / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D002110:Caffeine