|
The Cochrane Collaboration
Cochrane Reviews |
| Explore | New + Updated | Other languages |
|
 |
Digoxin for preventing or treating neonatal respiratory distress syndromeSoll RF
Bookmark this:      more ...
SummaryNot enough evidence that digoxin helps babies with neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.Sometimes a newborn baby has lungs that are not expanded properly. This is most common in preterm babies (born before 34 weeks) and is known as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Congestive heart failure may lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs, contributing to RDS. The drug digoxin has been used for congestive heart failure and has been suggested for RDS. The review found no evidence from trials that digoxin reduces congestive heart failure or prevents RDS.
This is a Cochrane review abstract and plain language summary, prepared and maintained by The Cochrane Collaboration, currently published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008 Issue 2, Copyright © 2008 The Cochrane Collaboration. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).
This version first published online:
April 27. 1998 AbstractBackgroundThis section is under preparation and will be included in the next issue. ObjectivesTo assess the effect of digoxin on clinical outcome in infants at risk of, or with, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Search strategySearches were made of the Oxford Database of Perinatal Trials, Medline (MeSH terms: digoxin; limits: age groups, newborn infants; publication type, clinical trial), previous reviews including cross references, abstracts, conference and symposia proceedings, expert informants, and journal handsearching in the English language. Selection criteriaRandomized controlled trials of digoxin in either the prevention or treatment of respiratory distress syndrome are included in this overview. Data collection and analysisData regarding clinical outcomes were excerpted from the trial reports by the reviewer. Data were analyzed according to the standards of the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group. Main resultsTwo randomized controlled trials have studied the effects of digoxin in the prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome. No improvement in respiratory status or mortality was noted. Meta-analysis of the effect of digoxin given to infants at risk of or with RDS on mortality does not suggest any benefit of digoxin treatment (typical relative risk 1.27 95% CI 0.78, 2.07; typical risk difference 0.06, 95% CI -0.06, 0.17). Authors' conclusionsAlthough hemodynamic disturbances play a role in the overall pathogenesis of respiratory distress syndrome, the specific contribution of early congestive heart failure (unrelated to hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus) does not appear to be a significant factor in RDS. Treatment with digoxin has no proven value in infants solely affected with respiratory distress syndrome. |