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Apnea of prematurity and caffeine pharmacokinetics: potential impact on hospital discharge

Journal of Perinatology volume 36, pages 141–144 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

To determine the half-life of serum caffeine concentrations and its relation to apnea of prematurity (AOP) after caffeine is discontinued in preparation for hospital discharge.

Study Design:

Prospective cohort study involving preterm infants with gestational ages ⩽33 weeks at birth. After caffeine was discontinued, serum caffeine concentrations and electronic detection of pathologic apnea, defined a priori, were obtained at 24 and 168 h, respectively.

Result:

Caffeine levels decreased from 13.3±3.8 to 4.3±2 mg l−1 (n=50, mean±s.d.) at 24 and 168 h, respectively (P<0.01). The mean caffeine half-life was 87±25 h at 35±1 weeks postmenstrual age. Seven days after discontinuation of caffeine, 64% of the infants had pathologic apnea.

Conclusion:

Hospital discharge planning for preterm infants with a history of AOP should be carefully considered after discontinuing caffeine. This study showed that caffeine may not reach subtherapeutic levels until around 11–12 days.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    J Doyle, D Davidson, S Katz, D Demeglio & J DeCristofaro

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    M Varela

Authors
  1. J Doyle
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  2. D Davidson
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  3. S Katz
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  4. M Varela
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  5. D Demeglio
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  6. J DeCristofaro
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Correspondence to J Doyle.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Doyle, J., Davidson, D., Katz, S. et al. Apnea of prematurity and caffeine pharmacokinetics: potential impact on hospital discharge. J Perinatol 36, 141–144 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2015.167

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