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. 2015 Jan;32(1):49-56.
doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1373845. Epub 2014 May 6.

Diuretic exposure in premature infants from 1997 to 2011

Matthew M Laughon  1 , Kim Chantala  2 , Sofia Aliaga  1 , Amy H Herring  2 , Christoph P Hornik  3 , Rachel Hughes  3 , Reese H Clark  4 , P Brian Smith  3
Affiliations

Diuretic exposure in premature infants from 1997 to 2011

Matthew M Laughon et al. Am J Perinatol. 2015 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: Diuretics are often prescribed off-label to premature infants, particularly to prevent or treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We examined their use and safety in this group.

Study design: Retrospective cohort study of infants < 32 weeks gestation and < 1,500 g birth weight exposed to diuretics in 333 neonatal intensive care units from 1997 to 2011. We examined use of acetazolamide, amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide, diazoxide, ethacrynic acid, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, mannitol, metolazone, or spironolactone combination. Respiratory support and fraction of inspired oxygen on the first day of each course of diuretic use were identified.

Results: About 37% (39,357/107,542) infants were exposed to at least one diuretic; furosemide was the most commonly used (93% with ≥ 1 recorded dose), followed by spironolactone, chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, bumetanide, and acetazolamide. About 74% patients were exposed to one diuretic at a time, 19% to two diuretics simultaneously, and 6% to three diuretics simultaneously. The most common combination was furosemide/spironolactone, followed by furosemide/chlorothiazide and chlorothiazide/spironolactone. Many infants were not receiving mechanical ventilation on the first day of each new course of furosemide (47%), spironolactone (69%), chlorothiazide (61%), and hydrochlorothiazide (68%). Any adverse event occurred on 42 per 1,000 infant-days for any diuretic and 35 per 1,000 infant-days for furosemide. Any serious adverse event occurred in 3.8 for any diuretic and 3.2 per 1,000 infant-days for furosemide. The most common laboratory abnormality associated with diuretic exposure was thrombocytopenia.

Conclusion: Despite no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indication and little safety data, over one-third of premature infants in our population were exposed to a diuretic, many with minimal respiratory support.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of infants <32 weeks and <1500 g exposed to diuretics over time.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of infants <32 weeks and <1500 g exposed to (A) furosemide and (B) any diuretic by site.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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