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warnings
WARNINGS During the double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, six cases of necrotizing enterocolitis developed among the 85 infants studied (caffeine=46, placebo=39), with three cases resulting in death. Five of the six patients with necrotizing enterocolitis were randomized to or had been exposed to caffeine citrate. Reports in the published literature have raised a question regarding the possible association between the use of methylxanthines and development of necrotizing enterocolitis, although a causal relationship between methylxanthine use and necrotizing enterocolitis has not been established. Therefore, as with all preterm infants, patients being treated with caffeine citrate should be carefully monitored for the development of necrotizing enterocolitis.
ADVERSE REACTIONS Overall, the reported number of adverse events in the double-blind period of the controlled trial was similar for the caffeine citrate and placebo groups. The following table shows adverse events that occurred in the double-blind period of the controlled trial and that were more frequent in caffeine citrate treated patients than placebo. ADVERSE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY IN CAFFEINE CITRATE TREATED PATIENTS THAN PLACEBO DURING DOUBLE-BLIND THERAPY Adverse Event (AE) Caffeine Citrate N=46 n (%) Placebo N=39 n (%) BODY AS A WHOLE Accidental Injury Feeding Intolerance Sepsis 1 (2.2) 4 (8.7) 2 (4.3) 0 (0) 2 (5.1) 0 (0) CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM Hemorrhage 1 (2.2) 0 (0) DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Necrotizing Enterocolitis Gastritis Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage 2 (4.3) 1 (2.2) 1 (2.2) 1 (2.6) 0 (0) 0 (0) HEMIC AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEM Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation 1 (2.2) 0 (0) METABOLIC AND NUTRITIVE DISORDERS Acidosis Healing Abnormal 1 (2.2) 1 (2.2) 0 (0) 0 (0) NERVOUS SYSTEM Cerebral Hemorrhage 1 (2.2) 0 (0) RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Dyspnea Lung Edema 1 (2.2) 1 (2.2) 0 (0) 0 (0) SKIN AND APPENDAGES Dry Skin Rash Skin Breakdown 1 (2.2) 4 (8.7) 1 (2.2) 0 (0) 3 (7.7) 0 (0) SPECIAL SENSES Retinopathy of Prematurity 1 (2.2) 0 (0) UROGENITAL SYSTEM Kidney Failure 1 (2.2) 0 (0) In addition to the cases above, three cases of necrotizing enterocolitis were diagnosed in patients receiving caffeine citrate during the open-label phase of the study. Three of the infants who developed necrotizing enterocolitis during the trial died. All had been exposed to caffeine. Two were randomized to caffeine, and one placebo patient was "rescued" with open-label caffeine for uncontrolled apnea. Adverse events described in the published literature include: central nervous system stimulation (i.e., irritability, restlessness, jitteriness), cardiovascular effects (i.e., tachycardia, increased left ventricular output, and increased stroke volume), gastrointestinal effects (i.e., increased gastric aspirate, gastrointestinal intolerance), alterations in serum glucose (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia) and renal effects (increased urine flow rate, increased creatinine clearance, and increased sodium and calcium excretion). Published long-term follow-up studies have not shown caffeine to adversely affect neurological development or growth parameters.