title: Theophylline for infants with abnormal pneumographic results. A randomized double blind, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: To evaluate the effectiveness of theophylline on density of central apnoeas and on incidence of periodic breathing; to compare the effect with age-related resolution of pneumogram abnormalities. Ninety-six infants (mean age 27.4 days; mean birth weight 2502 gm) with abnormal pneumographic results were randomly allocated to receive theophylline or placebo. The control group consisted of 94 healthy age- and weight-matched infants. After four weeks of treatment infants in the theophylline group had a significantly lower incidence (2.1% vs. 4.3%) and density of apnoeas > or = 15 sec (0.001 vs. 0.003). There were significantly less short apnoeas (> or = 6 sec.) in theophylline treated than in control infants (p < 0.01). The number of periodic breathing episodes showed a significant, presumably age-related reduction in both treatment groups. We conclude that theophylline is an effective agent in reducing the incidence and duration of apnoeas beyond what would be expected from age-related maturation of breathing.
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, Gottfried von Preyer Children's Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paky
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Donath
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Huebmer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stögmann
mesh_terms: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013806:Theophylline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D013806:Theophylline