Developmental outcome of premature infants treated with theophylline.

The methylated xanthines are known to have multiple metabolic effects. This study was performed to examine the development of premature infants treated with theophylline in the neonatal period for apnea. The theophylline-treated infants had lower Apgar scores and gestational ages when compared to those who did not receive theophylline. There were no significant differences in the developmental indices, and both groups had similar incidences of severe neurologic sequelae and retrolental fibroplasia. Similarly, there were no differences in the somatic growth. The data suggest that theophylline does not adversely affect development of premature infants when examined at 9--27 months of age.