Background Methylxanthine therapy is commonly used for apnea of prematurity but in the
absence of adequate data on its efficacy and safety. It is uncertain whether methylxanthines
have long-term effects on neurodevelopment and growth. Methods We randomly assigned
2006 infants with birth weights of 500 to 1250 g to receive either caffeine or placebo until
therapy for apnea of prematurity was no longer needed. The primary outcome was a
composite of death, cerebral palsy, cognitive delay (defined as a Mental Development Index …

Rationale: Apnea of prematurity is a common condition that is usually treated with caffeine,
an adenosine receptor blocker that has powerful influences on the central nervous system.
However, little is known about the long-term effects of caffeine on sleep in the developing
brain. Objectives: We hypothesized that neonatal caffeine use resulted in long-term
abnormalities in sleep architecture and breathing during sleep. Methods: A total of 201 ex-
preterm children aged 5–12 years who participated as neonates in a double-blind …