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AC T A M E D I C A M A R T I N I A N A 2 013 13 / 3 DOI: 102478/acm-2013-0017 5

APNEA IN PRETERM NEWBORNS:

DETERMINANTS, PATHOPHYSIOLOGY,
EFFECTS ON CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS AND TREATMENT
Haskova K 1, Javorka K 2, Javorka M2, Matasova K 1, Zibolen M1.
1
Clinic of Neonatology and 2Department of Physiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius
University and University Hospital Martin, Slovakia

Abst rac t

Apnea, especially in preterm newborns (AoP) is one of the common problems encountered at neonatal units.
Numerous factors are likely to play a role in the etiology of apnea. Recent data sugest a role for genetic predispo-
sition of AoP. It seems, that physiological rather than pathological immaturity of the respiratory, or cardiorespira-
tory control, play a major part in the pathophysiology of AoP. Immaturity of the brainstem, cerebral cortex, recep-
tors of the lungs and the airways as well as of the chemoreceptors contribute to the development of apnea in
preterm newborns. Several neurotransmitters (GABA, adenosin, endorphins) and their maturational changes are
including in pathogenesis of apnea, too. The instability of the upper airway in preterm infants, asynchrony of mus-
culature of the upper airway and diaphragm, pathological changes in the upper airway and malformations of the
central nervous system might also contribute to the occurrence and severity of AoP.
In newborns, apnea occurs more frequently in active sleep than in quiet sleep and the frequency of apnea
in active sleep is higher in the warm conditions. Durations of apnea correlate with the body heat loss.
Cardiovascular changes during apnea - bradycardia, peripheral vasoconstriction and various changes in
peripheral blood flow and pressure occur together with changes in ECG. The standard clinical management of
apnea includes non-pharmacological treatment (eliciting arousal reactions and reflex breathing by mechanical
skin, or mucosa stimulations), pharmacological treatment (methylxanthines are preferred) and application of con-
tinuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or in severe apnea - mechanical ventilation.

Keywods: apnea, apnea of prematurity, newborn, immaturity, chemoreflexes, heart rate, bradycardia, blood
pressure, oxygen desaturation, methylxanthines, treatment of apnea

INTRODUCTION

In the early postnatal period start and stabilization of (air) breathing is a major develop-
mental milestone for premature infants. These infants may have problems with temperatu-
re instability, hypoglycaemia, feeding, hyperbilirubinemia, gastrointestinal complications (1)
as well as with cardiorespiratory control. One of the common respiratory disorder in the
early neonatal period is apnea - spontaneous and transient arrest of the exchange of the air
between atmosphere and alveolar compartments and/or the respiratory movements.
The definition of apnea of prematurity (AoP) has been changing in past years due to new
views on its physiopathology. Apnea was defined on the basis of the presence of cessation
in breathing > 20 seconds or shorter respiratory pauses accompanied by bradycardias
(< 100 beats per minutes) and oxygen desaturations (<90%) (2).
Apnea duration varying from 2 (3) to > 15 seconds (4, 5) have been established to make
more precise definition of apnea in newborns. At present, the most widely used definition
of apnea of prematurity (in infants born less than in 37th week of gestation) is a cessation
of breathing accompanied by heart rate and oxygen saturation changes, while there is
a pause of breathing for more than 15-20  s accompanied by oxygen desaturation
(SpO2d“80% for >10s) and/or bradycardia (heart rate<2/3 of baseline for ≥4 s) (6).

A d d r e s s f o r c o r r e s p o n d e n c e:
Katarina Haskova, MD, Clinic of Neonatology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Kollarova Str.
N.2, 03601 Martin, Slovakia; e-mail: [email protected]
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According to the mentioned definitions, the most apnea alarm devices in neonatal units
are set up to detect apneas lasting for greater than 20 second (7), which are accompanied
with bradycardia (< 80 beats/per minutes) and oxygen desaturation (80 %).
Apnea is usually divided into three main types: central, obstructive and mixed. In central
apnea, there is a cessation of both respiratory effort and nasal airflow. With obstructive
apnea, nasal airflow ceases as the infant makes increasing respiratory efforts in attempts
to overcome partial or total upper airway obstruction. The third type of apnea is described
as mixed and has both central and obstructive components (5). Central apnea in newborns
accounts for approximately 10 % to 25 % of all cases of apnea, with obstructive apnea
accounting for 10 % to 25 % and mixed for 50 % to 75 % (8).

DETERMINANTS OF APNEA

Heritability of apnea in preterm infants

Heritability determines many vital characteristics through determination of development,

production and functions all body structures, receptors, neurotransmitters and molecules
involved in regulation of body functions including cardiovascular and respiratory system (9).
There is evidence that some infants may have a genetic prediposition towards experiencing
apnea of prematurity (5). Tamim et al. (10) first reported a higher proportion of first-degree
mating for infants with AoP compared with those without it. A genetic basis of apnea of pre-
maturity has been demonstrated also in twin study (11), which suggesting apnea as a heri-
table disorders. The authors found greater concordance for apnea among monozygotic twins
(87%) than same-gender dizygotic twins (62%). A gender-dependent model revealed that
genetic factors accounted for 99% of the variance in male twins and 78% of the variance in
female twins.

Predispositions and pathophysiology of apnea

Mechanism leading to obstructions of airways include several processes, such as the

instability of the upper airway in preterm infants, asynchrony of the musculature of the
upper airway and diaphragm activities, other pathological changes in the upper airway and
also central nervous system disorders (5). The two most likely sites of loss of upper airway
patency based on anatomical and physiological basis are the larynx and pharynx.

Pharynx
Patency of the airways depends on a perfect respiratory, pharyngeal and laryngeal
muscles coordination. These muscle groups contract in synchrony during inspiration. The
generation of negative airway pressure by the respiratory muscles, in normal situations,
should be counteracted by contraction of upper airway muscles (7), mainly by genioglossus,
sternohyoid and posterior cricoarytenoid. Reduced tone in these muscles, as one might
expect in preterm infants may predispose to upper airway obstruction (12) and subse-
quently to apnea (mixed or obstructive).
Also spontaneous neck flection can lead to obstruction in healthy preterm newborns, as
well as in situation where there are anatomical abnormalities of the upper airway, such
can be seen in the Piere Robin and Down syndromes (5).

Nasal obstruction
Nasal area is the next typical location predisponing to the obstruction of the upper airway
in preterm infants. Nasal edema or the presence of a nasogastric feeding tube causes nasal
obstruction, that increases nasal airway resistance and can leads to apneic events in
newborns (23).
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Larynx
The newborn’s larynx has a characteristic laryngeal vestibule, which is small in diameter,
particulary in relation to the lumen of the trachea, making it anatomically a likely sites for
obstruction (12). The obstructing structures seem to be disproportionaly large arytenoid
masses and aryepiglotic folds.
Also the stimulation of laryngeal chemoreflex with bolus of fluid instilled into the oropha-
rynx leads to the swallowing, airway obstruction (12) and apnea, bradycardia and hypoten-
sion may ocured in preterm infants (13). This reflex-induced apnea is mediated through
superior laryngeal nerve afferents (14, 15). The role of this reflex is a protection of the air-
way and seems that apnea can represent an exaggeration of this protective reflex in preterm
infants (12). It is interesting, that the severity of apnea depends of the degree of individual
maturation. This finding has been examined by direct electrical stimulation of superior
laryngeal nerve in monkeys, which produces glotic closure followed by prolonged apnea.
Preterm and newborn monkeys having more accentuated apnea after stimulation that older
monkeys (16).
Malformation of central nervous system such as meningomyelocele, Arnold-Chiari
deformity, hydrocephalus, which result in paralysis of the abductor cord secundary to rai-
sed intracranial pressure, comonly increases incidence of the apnea and upper airway
obstruction (5).

Muscle tone, sleep state and ambient temperature

The dominant inspiratory muscle in newborns is the diaphragm. Its position is higher
than in adults, but this advantage is ofset by the low tone of intercostal muscles and soft
and compliant chest. For the higher chest wall compliance are responsible soft ribs due to
low mineralisation of bones and a low intercostal muscle tone.
Important changes in the respiration of the newborns occurs during sleeping. There are
basically two types of sleep, quite, non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and active rapid eye
movement (REM) sleep. While adults have approximately 80% of their sleep in NREM, pre-
mature newborn infants with less than 32 weeks have approximately 80% of their sleep in
REM - active stage. The active stage is characterized by irregular breathing with intermit-
tent respiratory pauses and apneas. During this active sleep, there is a central inhibition of
all postural muscles inducing a generalized muscle hypotonia. The inspiratory intercostal
muscles tone, which help to keep the thoracic cavity form, is affected, too. Hypotonia of
these muscles leads to distortion of the rib cage during inspiration causing so called para-
doxical inspiratory motion of the abdomen (abdominal paradoxical movements). This dis-
tortion results in an increase in the diaphragmatic work, which have to contract more to
maintain adequate ventilation. Generalized muscle hypotonia also affects the upper airway
muscles, and it is responsible for a significant increase in airway resistance and respirato-
ry work. Moreover, the respiratory muscles (especially the diaphragm) of these babies are
not well-developed, they have poor differentiation and low enzymatic capacity, what put the
premature newborn infant at risk for muscular fatigue (7).
The influence of thermal drive on central sleep apnea was studied in newborns. Bader et
al. (17) reported that the rate of apneic events in active sleep increased with warmer ambient
air temperature in full-term neonates but not in preterm neonates. Likewise, Franco et al.
(18) found that the apnea frequency significantly increased with a warmer ambient tem-
perature during active sleep in neonates born between 37 to 41 weeks of gestation. In con-
trast, apnea episodes were less frequent and shorter in cold enviroment with higher meta-
bolic rate and oxygen consumption even in premature newborns (19).

Immaturity
There is a strong negative reciprocal relationship between gestational age, birth weight
and frequency of apnea. In 7% percent of neonates born at 34 to 35 weeks gestation, in
15% at 32 to 33 weeks, in 54% at 30 to 31 weeks (20) and nearly in all infants born at <
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29 weeks gestation or < 1,000 g occur apnea of prematurity (21). The severity of apnea is
quite variable among infants of similar age, which suggests that a variety of other factors
may contribute to infant’s susceptibility to apnoeic episodes (11). Apnea of prematurity
(AoP) usually ocurs during the second and third rather than the first week of life (22).
Immaturity in the control of respiratory activity plays an important part in the pathophy-
siology of apnea in preterm newborns (12). In most cases, AoP likely reflects as a “physio-
logical” rather than a “pathological” immature state of respiratory control (23). Signals for
the control of breathing which maintain rhytmic ventilation originate in the brainstem (res-
piratory centre, brainstem generator of breathing), in the area of the medulla oblongata.

Brainstem generator
Evidence of brainstem immaturity comes from measures of neuronal function in preterm
infants with apnea. Auditory evoked responses have been used to measure brainstem con-
duction times, which were significantly higher in babies with apnea compared with controls
matched for gestational age (24). In preterm infants, post mortem histological examination
was performed. The examination demonstrated a fewer synaptic connection, a reduce num-
ber of dendritic arborisation and a reduction in myelinisation (25).
Input into the respiratory center arises from three primary sources: chemoreceptors (che-
mical regulation), receptors of the lung and airways, and input from the higher CNS levels
(neural regulation). Delay maturation of any of these areas could potentially result in apnea
(5, 12).

Chemical regulation of breathing

To the chemical regulation of breathing by PaO2, PaCO2 and pH of blood are involved
peripheral and central chemoreceptors also in newborns, however with some peculiarities.
Peripheral chemoreceptors located in the carotid bodies are primarily responsible for the
ventilatory response to hypoxia. Newborns also respond to changes in PaCO2 and pH. The
response to hypercapnia is hyperventilation and term newborns have ventilatory response
to hypercapnia more pronounced than to hypoxia. Preterm newborns respond less to hyper-
capnia than term newborns what is likely centrally mediated. A decrease in arterial pH
stimnulates ventilation in newborns independently of PaCO2 and this reaction is expected
to be centrally mediated (26).
Term newborns during the first week of life, and preterm newborns for the first 2-3 weeks
of life typically show a biphasic reaction to hypoxia in that they have an initial rapid increa-
se in ventilation followed by an inhibition of breathing (26, 27). It has been suggested that
hypoxia affects ventilation in two different ways: a stimulatory effect through peripheral
chemoreceptors and a direct depressive effect of hypoxia to the brainstem generator of
breathing.
Several neurotransmitters have been implicated in the development of the central hypoxic
respiratory depression. These include -aminobutyric acid (GABA), adenosine and endorp-
hins (28). GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS (23) and GABAergic
neurons were activated during hypercapnia, in piglets (29). Adenosine is a product of ade-
nosine triphosphate and is formed as a consequence of metabolic and neural activity in the
brain, especially during hypoxia (23). When the receptors for these neurotransmitters were
blocked in animal models using bicuculline, methylxanthines or naloxone, respectively, the
hypoxic respiratory depressive response was reduced (30) as well as respiratory rate in res-
ponse to hypercapnia was increased (31). Experimental evidence suggests that adenosine
and the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA might interact with each other to cause apnea
(30), because the binding of adenosine to its receptor may be involved with the release of
GABA and thus inhibit respiration leading to apnea (32). Hypoxic respiratory depression
may play a role in apnea of prematurity.
A key integrative function for central CO2 chemosensitivity and modulation of afferent
inputs from peripheral chemoreceptors and laryngeal afferents play the ventral surface of
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the medulla and adjacent areas. Maturational change in medullary neurotransmitter func-
tion appears to contribute to the apnea of prematurity (28). Also the recent findings provi-
des a detailed information about the postnatal changes in the incidence of hypoxemic events
associated with apnea and an anecdotal evidence for a correlation with carotid chemore-
ceptor maturation. It also provides a hypothesis that sensitization of the carotid chemore-
ceptors could represent an important protective mechanism to defend against severe hypo-
xemia (33).

Neural regulation of breathing

Also neural regulation of breathing in newborns, especially in the preterm ones, has many
peculiarities that are unique in their control of ventilation. The specific responses of the ven-
tilation to different stimuli (distension of the lungs, changes in intrapulmonary pressure,
etc.) may reflect and/or to be under the influence of the maturation process of the ventila-
tory control (34).
The Hering-Breuer inflation reflex (HBR), mediated by vagal stretch receptors in smooth
muscles of the airways, appears stronger in newborns than in adults (35, 36). The HBR, as
a simple control negative feedback system, may be used as a temporary regulator of breat-
hing mainly in premature newborns.
Preterm infants also show special responses to mechanical or chemical stimulation of
irritant receptors in the bronchial mucosa, which often result in reduced respiratory
efforts and in apnea rather than the facilitatory response seen in mature infants (37).
Mechanical stimulation of the oropharyngeal region evoked transient respiratory arrest in
25% of studied premature newborns (38) and this percentage was higher in premature
newborns with respiratory distress syndrome (39).

Table 1. Factors exacerbating or causing apnea in newborns

Central nervous system Intracranial haemorrhage

Seizures
Drugs (sedatives, narcotics, postanaesthesia, prostaglandin E2)

Sepsis Necrotizing enterocolities

Meningitis
Bronchiolitis

Metabolic Hypoglycaemia
abnormalities Hyponatraemia
Hypocalcaemia
Inborn errors of metabolism

Enviromental Hyperthermia
Hypothermia

Upper airway Choanal atresia

obstruction Micrognathia (Piere Robin sequence)
Macroglossia
Hypotonia of Down syndrome

Circulatory Patent ductus arteriosus

Heart failure
Anaemia

Immunisation

(Modified by Rennie)(5)
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Apart from the reflexes described above, there are other sensory pathways (e.g. visual,
acoustic, vestibular, tactile, thermal, pain, etc.) that could influence the pattern of breat-
hing in newborns. For example, the breathing can be stimulated and apnea interrupted by
mechanical stimulation of the skin (pain or tactile stimuli) or of the airway mucosa to evoke
so called „reflex breathing.“ The described effect exceeds time of the stimulation and per-
sists for several minutes. This is why Kattwinkel et al. (40) recommended that in prematu-
re newborns suffering from frequent apneic pauses, mechanical stimulation of the skin
every 20 ÷ 30 minutes helped prevent the apneic pauses.

Another factors involved in apnea

There are many conditions that causing apnea, but most apnoeic episodes occur sponta-
neously in preterm babies who are otherwise healthy. It is due to a immaturity of their sys-
tems, mainly of the central nervous system. Therefore, it is necessary to exclude secondary
causes of apnea before a diagnosis apnea of prematurity (AoP) is done (41).
There are many next conditions that cause or accentuate apnea (Table 1).

CHANGES OF CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS

Timing of the cardiovascular changes in apnea

Usually, a gradual inbition of the respiratory movements for a few seconds before the
onset of apnea occured or alternatively, breathing stopped abruptly without any prior
change. Apnea may terminate spontaneously, but with increasing duration, stimulation and
resuscitation is neccesary to restart breathing.
Storrs (42) by examination of cardiovascular changes during apnea in premature new-
borns found that apnea could be as short as five seconds in which cardiovascular changes
occured. On the other side, Curzi-Dascalova et al. (43) described that in some cases the car-
diac deceleration reactions preceed the respiratory arrest and therefore they are not at least
at this initial stage a cosequence of the apnea. These results suggest close interconnections
of functional integration of central structures that regulate breathing and circulation in
newborns (44).
Clinically, after the onset of apnea the infant become bradycardic, cyanosed and hypo-
tonic. Changes of cardiovascular parameters mainly relate to the heart rate, ECG, blood
presure and blood flow even in immature infants with gestations as low as 27 weeks (42).
Exact determination of the timing - relationships between start of apnea and start/end of
changes in cardiovascular parameters needs further study.

Heart rate
In adult experimental animals, stimulation of peripheral chemoreceptors by hypoxia elic-
its tachycardia which is reversed to bradycardia by peripheral vasoconstriction and hyper-
tensive reaction. In newborns, inhalation of hypoxic mixture evokes tachycardia, sponta-
neus apneic pauses are accompanied usually by a deceleration of heart rate - apneic brady-
cardia.
As the definition of apnea, also definitions of bradycardia in the preterm infants are var-
ious. However, a fall in heart rate to less than 100 beats/min in preterm infant for over a 5
seconds is generally considered as a neonatal bradycardia (45). Alternatively, a fall in heart
rate of more than 30% below baseline has been used as a criterion for bradycardia (46).
At present, there are different views about the mechanisms of the apneic bradycardia. One
of the views is that bradycardia occurs before (43) or simultaneously with apnea without
oxygen desaturation, possibly mediated by central structures, vagal nerve and not neces-
sarily by hypoxemia (23).
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However, in the majority of cases, there is apnea closely followed by a fall in oxygen satu-
ration and almost all bradycardias begin after the onset of apnea and after the onset of
desaturation (47, 48). Initially it was thought that this bradycardia accompanied by hypo-
xia is the direct result of cardiac depression. It is now clear that the bradycardia occurs too
early in apnea to be due to this effect (49). Stop of the respiratory movements and of the
cyclic distension of the lungs may also have a role in the development of the bradycardia,
perhaps due to the lack of stimulation of a pulmonary inflation receptors (50) and loss of
the respiratory sinus arrhytmia. It seems that mechanisms of the apneic bradycardia are
complex, perhaps including baroreflexes in the cases when the hypertonic reaction during
apnea occurs. These mechanisms should be studied in more details.
Bradycardia can influence both, hemodynamics as well as saturation of hemoglobin by
oxygen (SaO2). There is evidence, that apneic episodes in preterm babies not associated with
bradycardia had a median 5% reduction in SaO2, whereas those associated with bradycar-
dia had a median reduction 9% (51). The relation between bradycardia and SaO2 is mutu-
al. The greather reduction in HR during apnoeic attacks had infants with poor baseline
values of oxygenation, than those who were well oxygenated (51). Therefore is neccesary to
keep infants with recurent apnoeic attacks well oxygenated.

ECG changes
Recently, analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) for episodes apnea-bradycardia charac-
terization was carried out on preterm infants. RR interval, R-wave amplitude and QRS
duration were studied for periods at rest, before, during and after apnea-bradycardia epi-
sodes.
Results reveal modification in the amplitude of the R-wave and duration of the QRS
complex, in meaning reduction of the R-wave amplitude and prolongation of the QRS
complex. The first minor variations of the time series appeared after the onset of apnea,
while the most significant changes were reflected during apnea-bradycardia episodes with
their normalization after a short time of the heart rate returning to its rest value. Analysis
of the first less significant changes in the first minutes of apnea, the authors try to detect
a signal that is potentially useful for the early detection and characterization of these epi-
sodes (52).

Blood pressure
In adults, hypoxia usually causes peripheral vasoconstriction, redistribution - centraliza-
tion of blood associated with hypertensive response, but in newborns were observed only
variable changes in systemic blood pressure. Storrs (42) did not seen the consistent changes
in mean blood pressure during apnea in preterm babies. Only a small rise (never more than
10 mmHg), or a small fall, or blood pressure remain unchanged. Sometimes, he also recor-
ded a rebound rise in blood pressure associated with cardiac acceleration. In all infants he
noted beat-to-beat variations (up to 33%) in pulse pressure (pulsus paradoxus) while breat-
hing, which were eliminated during apnea.
Gootman (53), in experiments in newborn piglets found that during hypoxia is a rise of
vascular resistance in the mesenteric circulation, but blood pressure in the aorta decreas-
es. Older (bimonthly) piglets responded to hypoxia not only by the increase of the vascular
resistance in the splanchnic area, but also by the rise of aortic pressure. It demonstrates
the postnatal maturation of the cardiovascular regulation.
Recently, we study the changes in cardiovascular parameters during spontaneous apnea
(Figs.1,2) in preterm newborns. Parameters are continously monitored by using device
Portapres (FMS). The device enables registration of peripheral blood pressure non invasive-
ly so, it is possible to use this method also in newborns without indications for catheteri-
zation for invasive BP monitoring.
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Fig. 1 Record of the blood pressure by means of Portapres. Blood pressure reaction during apnea (arrow) accom-
panied by a decrease SatO2 to 89%.

Fig. 2 Blood pressure recording in repetitive apneas accompanied by a decrease saturation (SatO2 88% and 78%)
as well as by changes of blood pressure.
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Blood f low
Changes in blood flow during apnea in premature newborns are influenced by the perip-
heral vasoconstriction and by a presence of transitional circulation in which the shunts may
re-open.
In pulmonary circulation hypoxia can elicit vasoconstriction, but the effect may be modi-
fied by a blood flow through ductus arteriosus.
The effect of episodes of apnea with bradycardia on cerebral circulation was studied by
measuring blood flow velocity in the anterior cerebral arteries (54). With episodes of
apnea complicated by mild-to-moderate bradycardia, a decrease in diastolic flow veloci-
ty was noted with little or no change in systolic flow velocity. With episodes complicated
by severe bradycardia (heart rate less than 80/min), the diastolic flow velocity as well as
progressive decrease in systolic flow velocity also were observed. Accompanying the
changes in cerebral blood flow velocity were similar changes in arterial blood pressure.
These data clearly suggest potential deleterious hypoxic-ischemic effects from apnea on
brain with severe bradycardia in the preterm infant. Therefore, apnea alarm limits
should be set up to keep the heart rate above 80 beats/minute and to prevent oxygen
desaturation (51).

TREATMENT OF APNOEA OF PREMATURITY

The management of apnoea of prematurity is influenced by the presence of any underly-

ing conditions causing the apnoeic episodes and the mode of clinical interventions depends
also on the type of apnoea (central, obstructive or mixed apnoea).
Apnoeic episodes with an underlying cause (generally referred to as secondary apnoea)
should be eliminated by treating such a cause, including infection, patent ductus arterio-
sus, seizures, maternal or neonatal medication exposure and possibly gastro-oesophageal
reflux.
Treatment of symptomatic idiopathic apnoea generally involves pharmacologic and non-
pharmacologic approaches. Some management options have been demonstrated as bene-
ficial, while other require further study. Therapeutic interventions with proven benefit are
the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and methylxanthines. Interventions
requiring further study include body positioning, sensory stimulation, improving oxygen-
carrying capacity and oxygen intake, control of hyperbilirubinaemia, nutritional supple-
mentation (L-Carnitine, Creatine), Doxapram and anti-reflux medication (55).

CPAP
Apnoea of prematurity is frequently managed by the nasal CPAP. It has been found to
decrease the incidence of obstructive and mixed apnoeic episodes, but its effect on central
apnoea is less clear. The beneficial effects of nasal CPAP may be augmented by the use of
the nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). It is a mean of respiratory sup-
port, when intermittent ventilator-derived inflations are superimposed on CPAP (55).
In the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) reccurent apnea unresponsible to nasal CPAP
or administration of methylxanthines is considered as a relative indication for mechanical
ventilation, while prolonged apnea or sudden collapse with apnea and bradycardia, with fai-
lure to establish satisfactory ventilation after a short period of face mask ventilation is abso-
lute indication to starting mechanical ventilation (56,57,58). Minimal ventilator settings
should be used to allow for spontaneous breathing efforts and to minimize lung injury (55).

Methylxanthines
Methylxanthines (aminophylline, theophylline and caffeine) have been used for treatment
of apnoea of prematurity for more than 30 years. Their clinical effects are equivalent, but
caffeine is the preferred treatment because of its wider therapeutic index and longer half-
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life that allows once-daily administration (59). Caffeine has appropriately been described as
a “silver bullet” in neonatology (60). Methylxanthines acting both, peripherally and central-
ly, stimulate medullary respiratory centres, increase carbon dioxide sensitivity, induce
bronchodilation and enhance diaphragmatic function. It leads to increased minute ventila-
tion, improved respiratory pattern and reduced hypoxic ventilatory depression. Recent data
indicate that initiation of caffeine treatment before a postnatal age of 3 days may have incre-
mental beneficial effects on later outcomes (61). The recommended dosing for caffeine cit-
rate is a loading dose of 20 mg/kg (10 mg/kg of caffeine base) followed by a daily mainte-
nance dose of 5 mg/kg (59, 62). Treatment is typically discontinued by 33 to 34 weeks of
postmenstrual age, following resolution of clinically apparent apnoea of prematurity. The
CAP trial confirmed that caffeine is effective in reducing or eliminating of apnoea episodes
in premature infants and in reducing the need for respiratory support. Moreover the treat-
ment with caffeine results in reduced incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and
improved rates of survival without neurodevelopmental disability at 18 to 21 months (62,
63). Although the Cochrane review concludes that the available evidence does not supply
the use of caffeine as prophylaxis to prevent apnoea, the CAP trial and other benefits of early
caffeine therapy with minimal risk justify the use of early caffeine prophylaxis in premature
infants (64). Infants with very low birth weight should routinely receive caffeine therapy and
caffeine levels do not need to be obtained as a part of routine clinical management (59).
Caffeine should be used in babies with apnoea and to facilitate weaning from mechanical
ventilation (65). Caffeine should also be considered for babies at high risk of needing mecha-
nical ventilation, such as those <1,250 g birth weight who are managing on non-invasive
respiratory support (65).

Therapeutic interventions requiring further study

Body position can influence lung function. Probably the optimal body position for preven-
tion of apnea in an infant with an accompanying lung disease is prone (55). The prone,
head-up tilt position may be considered as a first-line intervention for infants with apnoea
of prematurity (66). Nevertheless it should be avoided as the infant is being prepared for dis-
charge. Several modes of sensory stimulation (somatic, olfactory or skin-to-skin contact)
have been proposed for the prevention of apnoea of prematurity but there is a lack of data
confirming their effectiveness. Oxygen supplementation with the aim to increase the base-
line oxygen saturation as a strategy to prevent or treat clinical apnoea of prematurity has
currently insufficient evidence. The results of clinical studies evaluating the impact of red
blood cell transfusions on the incidence and frequency of apnoeic episodes in premature
infants were conflicting. The presence of apnoea of prematurity on its own probably should
not be the indication for blood transfusion but should be taken into account when forming
guidelines for blood transfusion in premature babies. Hyperbilirubinaemia and transient
bilirubin encephalopathy have been linked to an increased incidence of apnoea in prema-
ture infants but further research will be needed to demonstrate whether more strict control
of neonatal jaundice can decrease the incidence of apnoea in such infants. Gastro-
oesophageal reflux has been implicated in causing apnoea but treatment of reflux has been
shown to have no effect on frequency of apnoea of prematurity in premature infants.
Doxapram is a respiratory stimulant used in some countries for the treatment of methylx-
anthine-resistant apnoea of prematurity. The use of doxapram is controversial due to the
side effects. Short-term adverse effects include sleeplessness, jitteriness, seizures, feeding
intolerance and life-threatening cardiac conduction disorders. Long-term adverse effects are
related to the decrease in cerebral blood flow velocity and decrease in oxygen delivery, cou-
pled with increased cerebral oxygen consumption in preterm infants receiving doxapram.
Careful evaluation of risk and benefit must be used in prescribing this drug (55).
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A C T A M E D I C A M A R T I N I A N A 2 0 1 3 13 / 3 15

CONCLUSION

Apnea is one of the common problems encountered at neonatal units. Recent data sugest
that in the etiology of apnea genetic predisposition can play a role. It seems, that physiolo-
gical rather than pathological immaturity of the cardiorespiratory regulation and central
integration of this control play a major part in the etiology and pathophysiology of apnea
in premature newborns (AoP). Immaturity of the brainstem, receptors of the lungs and air-
ways as well as peculiarities in chemoreflexes contribute to the development of apnea in
preterm newborns. Several neurotransmiters (GABA, adenosin, endorphins) and their
maturational changes are including in pathogenesis of apnea, too. The instability of the
upper airway in preterm infants, asynchrony of musculature of the upper airway and diap-
hragm and other pathological changes might also contribute to the occurrence and severi-
ty of AoP.
Before, during and after apnea occur cardiovascular changes: bradycardia, peripheral
vasoconstriction and various changes in peripheral blood flow/pressure together with
changes in ECG. Typical finding is bradycardia, worsing perfusion of most organs and sat-
uration of hemoglobin by oxygen.
The standard clinical management of apnea includes non-pharmacological treatment
(eliciting arousal reactions and reflex breathing by mechanical skin, or mucosa stimula-
tions), pharmacological treatment (methylxanthines are preferred) and application of CPAP
or in severe apnea - mechanical ventilation.

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Acknowledgement
This work was supported by Project VEGA No. 1/0223/12 and VEGA N. 1/0059/13.

Received: November, 25, 2013

Accepted: December, 30, 2013