title: Randomized controlled trial of a high dose of oral erythromycin for the treatment of feeding intolerance in preterm infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of high-dose erythromycin to treat feeding intolerance in preterm infants predominantly fed milk formula.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a prospective randomized controlled trial on 60 premature infants suffering from feeding intolerance. Thirty infants were given oral erythromycin ethylsuccinate at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 10 days or until they reached full enteral feeds. Randomization was stratified according to gestational age <32 weeks or ≥32 weeks gestation. The primary end point was the time taken to establish full enteral feeding since enrollment. Potential adverse effects associated with erythromycin were also monitored. Student's t test was used for comparison of continuous variables and χ(2)for categorical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In infants <32 weeks, the use of erythromycin was associated with more daily weight gain (12.8 ± 2.6 g vs. 9.2 ± 5.3 g, p = 0.04) compared to the control group. Time to reach full feed did not differ between the erythromycin (13.8 ± 3.9 days) and the control (17.46 ± 4.9 days) groups (p = 0.07). In infants ≥32 weeks, there were no differences between the erythromycin and the control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High-dose erythromycin is associated with greater weight gain in preterm infants <32 weeks gestational age, who are predominantly fed cow's milk-based protein formulas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cairo, Cairo, Egypt. y_mansi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Yasmeen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mansi
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdelaziz
authors.forename: Zahraa
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ezzeldin
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D004917:Erythromycin