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Previous Volume 354:2179-2181 May 18, 2006 Number 20 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Caffeine is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs among premature infants. It is a potent respiratory stimulant indicated primarily to reduce the incidence of episodes of apnea associated with an immature central nervous system. It is also used frequently in these infants to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation. Despite the widespread use of caffeine for these indications, the evidence to support its use is based on the results of a few relatively small and short-term studies.¹ Information is lacking on possible long-term effects of prolonged administration of caffeine on the development of the brain and other organs.

In this . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Source Information

From the Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Schmidt, B., Roberts, R. S., Davis, P., Doyle, L. W., Barrington, K. J., Ohlsson, A., Solimano, A., Tin, W., the Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity Trial Group, (2007). Long-Term Effects of Caffeine Therapy for Apnea of Prematurity. NEJM 357: 1893-1902 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• (2006). Effect of Caffeine on Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia. JWatch General 2006: 5-5 [Full Text]