Prophylactic theophylline infusion for prevention of apnea of prematurity

To assess if therre was any advantage in the prophylactic use of theophylline to prevent apnea in preterms, we treated 56 preterms (Group A)<34 weeks gestation with theophylline infusion and compared these with 25 age and weight matched preterms (group B) who received no therapy. Aminophylline (25 mg/ml) was infused from admission in all neonates (group A) at rates ranging 0.2 to 0.38 mg/kg/h and blood levels estimated on an Abboths TDX analyzer by Fluorescence Polarization Immunuassay, after 5 days infusion