Amplitude Integrated Electroencephalogram Study of the Effect of Caffeine Citrate on Brain Development in Low Weight Infants with Apnea

BACKGROUND: To investigate the effect of caffeine citrate on the integrated brain electroencephalogram (EEG) of apnea and low birth weight infants. METHODS: Overall, 212 infants with apnea and low birth weight admitted to Xuzhou Central Hospital from June 2016 to June 2018 were enrolled. The infants were divided into control group and observation group according to the random number table method, 106 cases in each group. Infants in control group were treated with aminophylline, and infants in the observation group were given caffeine citrate. All children were continuously tested by digital amplitude integrated brain function monitor. The amplitude-integrated electroencephalogram (aEEG) was used to detect sleep arousal cycle (Cy), graphic continuity (Co), lower edge amplitude value (LB) scores, aEEG continuous voltage and periodic occurrence rate, narrowband voltage and bandwidth. RESULTS: After treatment, scores of Cy, Co and LB increased in both groups, and the scores were significantly higher in observation group than in control group (P=0.029, 0.017, 0.047). After treatment, continuous voltage positive rate, sleep-wake cycle occurrence rate, and narrow-band lower boundary voltage increased in both groups, and the values were significantly higher in observation group than in control group (P=0.011, 0.042). After treatment, aEEG detection bandwidth and the upper boundary voltage of the narrow band decreased in both groups, and the values were significantly lower in observation group than in control group (P=0.007, 0.020, 0.032). CONCLUSION: Citrate caffeine can alleviate the brain development of low-weight infants with apnea, improve brain electrical activity and promote brain function and maturity.