Prophylactic Versus Therapeutic Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity

Prophylactic caffeine (group1) will be defined as caffeine prescribed for preterm infant within the first 72 hours of life prior to manifest apnea . patients will be randomly assigned to receive caffeine in loading dose 20 mg/kg (equivalent for 10 mg/kg caffeine base) and maintenance dose 10 mg/kg/day (equivalent for 5 mg/kg caffeine base) .

Therapeutic caffeine ( group 2 ) will be defined as caffeine prescribed for manifest apnea within or after the first 72 hours of life . patients will be randomly assigned to receive caffeine in loading dose 20 mg/kg (equivalent for 10 mg/kg caffeine base) and maintenance dose 10 mg/kg/day (equivalent for 5 mg/kg caffeine base).