Background: The efficacy of macrolide treatment on gastrointestinal motility and acquirement of feeding tolerance in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants are controversial. This study aimed to evaluate clinical effects of parenterally administered erythromycin (EM) and clarithromycin (CAM) on gastrointestinal motility in ELBW infants.
Methods: ELBW infants treated in Tokyo Medical University Hospital were retrospectively studied. Several outcomes of ELBW infants treated with EM or CAM were compared with those recognized before initiation of the medication, as well as with those of patients with no macrolide treatment. The primary outcomes included average gastric residual volume that was evaluated 3 hours after enteral feeding. Secondary outcomes were the number of patients who developed feeding intolerance, stool frequency, and other adverse events, such as respiratory comorbidities and pyloric stenosis.
Results: Among a total of 53 infants, 20 and 13 were treated with EM and CAM, respectively, whereas 20 infants were not administered macrolides. The gastric residual volume was significantly decreased after initiation of medication compared with before medication in the EM group, whereas that of the untreated group showed no change. When the EM and CAM groups were combined, the gastric residual volume was also significantly decreased after treatment compared with before treatment. An increase in stool frequency and pyloric stenosis were not observed in the groups.
Conclusion: EM might be effective for acquiring feeding tolerance in ELBW infants. A future prospective study with a larger population is required to determine the efficacy of CAM.
Keywords: Clarithromycin; enteral feeding; erythromycin; feeding intolerance; macrolide; preterm newborns.