title: Sodium Alginate (Gaviscon®) does not reduce apnoeas related to gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apnoea of prematurity (AOP) frequently recurs in preterm infants. We have previously shown that a significant but variable proportion of AOP is induced by gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of sodium alginate in reducing the frequency of GOR-related AOP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight preterm infants with AOP were studied by a six-hour recording of combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring and polysomnography, including two three-hour postprandial periods: sodium alginate was given after one single meal named as drug-given (DG) meal, while the other as drug-free (DF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During 165h of registration, 715 apnoeas were recorded, 368 after-DG and 347 after-DF (p=.99); furthermore, 851 GOR episodes were detected, 315 after-DG and 536 after-DF (p=.001). No differences in the number of AOP were found between DG and DF. A significant reduction in the number of acid GORs and in acid exposure was found during DG, while the administration of sodium alginate didn't influence non-acid GOR indexes. The frequency of GOR-related apnoeas didn't differ between DG and DF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sodium alginate doesn't reduce the total number of AOP nor GOR-related apnoeas. On the other hand, it reduces acid GOR features, while it had no effect on non-acid GOR indexes.
authors.affiliation: Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit-S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital-University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy. luigi.corvaglia@unibo.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corvaglia
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spizzichino
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zama
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aceti
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Legnani
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faldella
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001049:Apnea / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012824:Silicic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D012824:Silicic Acid; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; C007829:alginate, aluminium hydroxide, magnesium trisilicate, sodium bicarbonate drug combination; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate