Caffeine Therapy in Preterm Infants: The Dose (and Timing) Make the Medicine

Abstract

Caffeine is one of the most commonly utilized medications in the NICU. In preterm infants, short-term and long-term pulmonary and neurodevelopmental benefits of therapy are well documented in the literature. While robust evidence supports the use of standard doses of caffeine for apnea of prematurity or to facilitate successful extubation, much remains unknown regarding the boundaries of efficacy and safety for this common therapeutic agent. Escalating dosing regimens seem to provide additional benefit in select infants, but grave toxicity has also been documented with early utilization of high-dose caffeine. Conflicting data exist surrounding the ideal timing of initiation of therapy. Even the widely adhered to discontinuation point has been challenged by data supporting continued use. Until robust data definitively support change, practice should align with current evidence defining clear, safe, and efficacious dosing and timing of caffeine therapy.

Keywords: apnea of prematurity; bronchopulmonary dysplasia; caffeine; methylxanthine; pharmacology; premature infant.