Caffeine citrate for the treatment of apnea of prematurity: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of caffeine citrate for treatment of apnea of prematurity.

DESIGN

Multicenter, parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with open-label rescue.

SETTING

Nine neonatal intensive care units.

PATIENTS

Eighty-five infants, 28-32 weeks postconception and 24 hours or more after birth who had six or more apnea episodes within 24 hours.

INTERVENTION

Caffeine citrate 10 mg/kg (as caffeine base) administered intravenously, followed by 2.5 mg/kg/day orally or intravenously, or placebo, for up to 10 days. Infants failing double-blind therapy could receive open-label rescue.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Success was defined as 50% or greater reduction in apnea episodes and elimination of apnea. Caffeine citrate was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing apnea episodes by at least 50% in 6 days (p<0.05), and approached statistical significance (p<0.10) in 3 days. It was significantly better than placebo in eliminating apnea in 5 days (p<0.05), and approached significance (p<0.10) in 2 days. The number of infants with an aggregate of 7-10 days of at least a 50% reduction in apnea events or elimination of apnea was significantly higher in the caffeine citrate than in the placebo group. Adverse events did not differ significantly between groups. No correlations were found between success and mean daily plasma concentrations or baseline characteristics. Volume of distribution and clearance increased with weight, supporting weight-adjusted dosing of caffeine citrate.

CONCLUSION

Caffeine citrate 10 mg/kg caffeine base (equivalent to 20 mg/kg caffeine citrate) intravenously followed by 2.5 mg/kg/day caffeine base (equivalent to 5 mg/kg/day caffeine citrate) either intravenously or orally for 10 days is safe and effective for treating apnea of prematurity in infants 28-32 weeks postconception.

Long-term efficacy and safety of dronabinol for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated anorexia

We studied the effects of long-term (12 months) dronabinol in 94 late-stage acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients (mean CD4 count of 45/mm3) who previously participated in a 6-week study (placebo versus dronabinol). All patients received dronabinol orally-2.5 mg twice daily (90%) or 2.5 mg once daily (10%). Appetite was measured using a visual analogue scale for hunger (VASH). Dronabinol was associated with consistent improvement in mean appetite. Patients previously treated with dronabinol continued to show improvement in VASH (percent change from baseline of 6-week trial: 48.6-76.1% at each month), whereas those previously treated with placebo exhibited substantial improvement in mean appetite, particularly during the initial 4 months of treatment (48.5-69.9%). Thereafter, dronabinol was associated with a VASH change at least twice baseline. Patients tended toward stable body weight for at least 7 months. Adverse events were primarily related to known central nervous system effects of dronabinol. These data support long-term, safe use of dronabinol for anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS.

Emerging indications for octreotide therapy, Part 1

Possible new indications for the use of octreotide are discussed. In October 1988, octreotide received FDA-approved labeling for use in the management of carcinoid syndrome and vipomas. Since that time, research results and clinical experience have accumulated that suggest a potentially much broader therapeutic role for octreotide. Reports continue to be published on the use of octreotide for treating pituitary tumors, gastroenteropancreatic tumors, diabetes mellitus, AIDS-associated diarrhea, autonomic neuropathy, pancreatitis, pancreatic pseudocysts and ascites, complications of pancreatic surgery and transplantation, ileostomy-associated diarrhea, enterocutaneous fistulas, pancreatic fistulas, dumping syndrome, short bowel syndrome, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Other emerging indications for the use of octreotide include psoriasis, hypercalcemia, cancer-related pain, polycystic ovary syndrome, and certain cancers. In children, octreotide has been studied for use in treating hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy. Along with the common adverse effects of octreotide, such as pain at the injection site and nausea, less frequent effects, such as cholelithiasis, gallbladder hypercontractility, and gastritis have now been described. Much of what has been learned is based on small uncontrolled studies and case reports, since the rarity of many of the conditions for which octreotide has shown promise has tended to preclude larger studies. As clinical experience with octreotide accumulates and better-designed trials are completed where possible, a broader therapeutic role for octreotide is likely to be recognized.