Prophylactic Administration of Aminophylline to Prevent Renal Dysfunction in Asphyxiated Neonates

Neonatal asphyxia is one of the most common neonatal problems. And kidney injuries are one of the most important complications of asphyxia in infants. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the effect of administering aminophylline on improving the renal function of asphyxiated preterm infants. In this single-blind randomized clinical trial, forty term neonates with perinatal asphyxia were randomized to intervention (n=21) and control (n=19) groups, respectively, receiving a intravenously single dose of aminophylline (5 mg/kg) or an equal volume of placebo (5% dextrose in water) during the first 3 hours of life. Daily urine output, 24-hour fluid intake, weight and serum creatinine were recorded during the first 5 days of life. The incidence of severe kidney dysfunction was not significantly different between the two groups. (2 infants in the group of intervention with aminophylline and 3 in the control placebo group; p=0.23). Plasma creatinine (Pcr) levels were increased in both groups on the second day and reached the maximum in the third day. Then it gradually decreased during the fourth and fifth days of life. There was no significant difference in Pcr & GFR between the groups in these five days (p>0.05). However, urinary output/input ratio was higher in the aminophylline group in the first three days of life. Prophylactic administration of aminophylline in asphyxiated neonates could not change the process of renal failure in the patients but could increase urinary output in the first days of life.