[Controlled study of the administration of CDP-choline to preterm newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome]

Abstract

A randomized prospective double-blind trial of CDP-Choline administration to a group of 24 preterm newborn infants with respiratory distress syndrome is reported. CDP-choline was administered by the intravenous route (100 mg/kg/day) for seven days, or until less than 30% supplemental oxygen was needed. By the fifth day of life, the patients who received CDP-choline required oxygen for a longer period of time, and had a lower lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and palmitic acid percentage than those in the control group. At the dose given, CDP-choline did not induce postnatal pulmonary maturity. In fact, it may even decrease lecithin synthesis.