Caffeine to prevent intermittent hypoxaemia in late preterm infants: randomised controlled dosage trial.

Objective: To establish the most effective and best tolerated dose of caffeine citrate for the prevention of intermittent hypoxaemia (IH) in late preterm infants.

Design: Phase IIB, double-blind, five-arm, parallel, randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Neonatal units and postnatal wards of two tertiary maternity hospitals in New Zealand.

(Rad 8)Caffeine prophylaxis to improve intermittent hypoxaemia in infants born late preterm: a randomised controlled dosage trial (Latte Dosage Trial).

Introduction: Infants born late preterm (34+0 to 36+6 weeks' gestational age) have frequent episodes of intermittent hypoxaemia compared with term infants. Caffeine citrate reduces apnoea and intermittent hypoxaemia and improves long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants born very preterm and may have similar effects in late preterm infants. Clearance of caffeine citrate increases with gestational age and late preterm infants are likely to need a higher dose than very preterm infants.