Document Detail


A placebo-controlled trial of low-dose erythromycin to promote feed tolerance in preterm infants.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11529540     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of erythromycin, a motilin agonist, in promoting enteral feed tolerance in preterm infants of < or = 32 wk gestation. Eligible infants were randomized to receive either low-dose (2.5 mg kg(-1) per dose 6 hourly) oral erythromycin ethylsuccinate or placebo for 10 d from the time of the first oral feed. The data from 22 erythromycin and 21 placebo infants were analysed. Birthweights (erythromycin 1,216 +/- 380 g, placebo 1,355 +/- 228 g, p = 0.25), gestation (erythromycin 28.6 +/- 2.2 wk, placebo 29.3 +/- 1.7 wk, p = 0.24) and other clinical variables were not different between the groups. Almost all infants were fed expressed breast milk. Erythromycin infants had significantly fewer episodes of large residual gastric aspirates (>30% of the previous 6 h worth of feeds) over 10 d (erythromycin 1.1 +/- 1.9, placebo 3.6 +/- 2.2 episodes, p = 0.0007). Infants in the erythromycin group achieved full oral feeds more quickly (6.0 +/- 2.3 vs 7.9 +/- 3.5 d, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to the number of days on total parenteral nutrition or to the time needed to regain birthweight. One enrolled infant from each group died of necrotizing enterocolitis. CONCLUSION: Low-dose erythromycin promoted gastric emptying and feed tolerance in premature infants at a lower gestational age than previously reported. Increased exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics may not be free of risk. Further studies are recommended to assess its efficacy in premature infants with established feed intolerance.
Authors:
J Oei; K Lui
Publication Detail:
Type:  Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)     Volume:  90     ISSN:  0803-5253     ISO Abbreviation:  Acta Paediatr.     Publication Date:  2001 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2001-08-31     Completed Date:  2002-01-03     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9205968     Medline TA:  Acta Paediatr     Country:  Norway    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  904-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Newborn Care, Royal Hospital for Women and the School of Paediatrics, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Double-Blind Method
Enteral Nutrition
Erythromycin / therapeutic use*
Gastrointestinal Agents / therapeutic use*
Gastrointestinal Diseases / drug therapy*
Gastrointestinal Motility / drug effects
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature, Diseases / drug therapy*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Gastrointestinal Agents; 114-07-8/Erythromycin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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