Published in:
01-04-2019 | Original Article
Caffeine exposure and acute kidney injury in premature infants with necrotizing enterocolitis and spontaneous intestinal perforation
Authors:
Noelia Aviles-Otero, Reeti Kumar, Dev Darshan Khalsa, Glen Green, J. Bryan Carmody
Published in:
Pediatric Nephrology
|
Issue 4/2019
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Abstract
Background
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in preterm infants, but specific therapies remain scarce. Recent studies have demonstrated an association between caffeine exposure and less frequent AKI in the first 7–10 days after birth. We hypothesized that patients with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and spontaneous intestinal perforation (SIP) would provide a better natural model of AKI to evaluate this association.
Methods
We reviewed all premature patients diagnosed with NEC or SIP at our institution from 2008 to 2014. AKI was defined by change in serum creatinine using the neonatal Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes definition. Caffeine was prescribed for apnea of prematurity and caffeine exposure was determined by chart review.
Results
A total of 146 patients with NEC/SIP were reviewed. Of these, 119 (81.5%) received caffeine, and 91 (62.3%) developed AKI. AKI occurred less frequently in patients who received caffeine than in those who did not (55.5% vs. 92.6%; odds ratio (OR) 0.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.02–0.44). This association persisted in multivariable models after adjustment for potential confounders (adjusted OR 0.08; 95% CI 0.01–0.42; number needed to be exposed to caffeine to prevent one case of AKI = 2.6). Although baseline serum creatinine did not differ by caffeine exposure, patients receiving caffeine had lower peak creatinine (median 1.0 mg/dl vs. 1.5 mg/dl; p = 0.008) and absolute creatinine change (median 0.42 mg/dl vs. 0.68 mg/dl; p = 0.003) than those who did not.
Conclusions
Caffeine exposure in preterm infants with NEC/SIP is associated with decreased incidence and severity of AKI.