THEOPHYLLINE FOR INFANTS WITH ABNORMAL PNEUMOGRAPHIC RESULTS - A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

To evaluate the effectiveness of theophylline on density of central ap noeas and on incidence of periodic breathing; to compare the effect wi th age-related resolution of pneumogram abnormalities. Ninety-six infa nts (mean age 27.4 days; mean birth weight 2502 gm) with abnormal pneu mographic results were randomly allocated to receive theophylline or p lacebo. The control group consisted of 94 healthy age- and weight-matc hed 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 greater than or equal to 15 sec (0.001 vs. 0.003). There w ere significantly less short apnoeas (greater than or equal to 6 sec.) in theophylline treated than in control infants (p<0.01). The number of periodic breathing episodes showed a significant, presumably age-re lated reduction in both treatment groups. We conclude that theophyllin e is an effective agent in reducing the incidence and duration of apno eas beyond what would be expected from age-related maturation of breat hing.