Methylxanthines and sensorineural outcome at 14 years in children < 1501 gbirthweight

Objectives: Methylxanthines, including theophylline, have been used extensi vely and successfully to treat apnoea in preterm infants. However, long-ter m consequences of such therapy are largely unknown. The aim of this study w as to determine the relationship between theophylline therapy and outcome a t 14 years of age in surviving preterm children of birthweight < 1501 g. Methodology: The subjects of this study were 154 consecutive survivors with birthweights < 1501 g bon from 1 October 1980 to 31 March 1982, 130 (84.4% ) were assessed at 14 years of age. Outcomes included motor function, psych ological test scores, and growth. Results: Of the 130 children assessed, 69 (53.1%) had been exposed to theop hylline; 13.0% had cerebral palsy, significantly higher than 1.6% in the 61 children not exposed to theophylline (P < 0.02). This difference remained statistically significant after adjusting for potential confounding variabl es including the presence of cerebroventricular haemorrhage. In contrast, a fter adjusting for known confounding variables, children who had received t heophylline achieved higher psychological test scores. Then was no associat ion between theophylline therapy and growth. Conclusions: Theophylline therapy in the newborn period is associated with some evidence of harmful, but also helpful sensorineural effects at 14 year s of age.