Exposure to H2 receptor antagonists may be associated with increased risk of NEC and infections in preterm infants
BACKGROUND Inhibitors of gastric acid ( IGA ) are used for upper gastrointestinal bleeding or gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants .
The result ant increase in gastric pH may enhance the growth of pathogens and increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) .
Our systematic review examined the association between  IGA and NEC in preterm infants .
Ranitidine is Associated With Infections, Necrotizing Enterocolitis, and Fatal Outcome in Newborns
Background And Objective : Gastric acidity is a major nonimmune defense mechanism against infections . The objective of this study was to investigate whether ranitidine treatment in very low birth weight ( VLBW ) infants is associated with an increased risk of infections , necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) , and fatal outcome . Methods : Newborns with birth weight between 401 and 1500 g or gestational age between 24 and 32 weeks , consecutively observed in neonatal intensive care units , were enrolled in a multicenter prospect i ve observational study . The rates of infectious diseases , NEC , and death in enrolled subjects exposed or not to ranitidine were recorded . Results : We evaluated 274 VLBW infants : 91 had taken ranitidine and 183 had not . The main clinical and demographic characteristics did not differ between the 2 groups . Thirty-four ( 37.4 % ) of the 91 children exposed to ranitidine and 18 ( 9.8 % ) of the 183 not exposed to ranitidine had contracted infections ( odds ratio 5.5 , 95 % confidence interval 2.9–10.4 , P < .001 ) . The risk of NEC was 6.6-fold higher in ranitidine-treated VLBW infants ( 95 % confidence interval 1.7–25.0 , P = .003 ) than in control subjects . Mortality rate was significantly higher in newborns receiving ranitidine ( 9.9 % vs 1.6 % , P = .003 ) . Conclusions : Ranitidine therapy is associated with an increased risk of infections , NEC , and fatal outcome  in VLBW infants . Caution is advocated in the use of this drug in neonatal age
Exposure to H2 receptor antagonists may be associated with increased risk of NEC and infections in preterm infants
BACKGROUND Inhibitors of gastric acid ( IGA ) are used for upper gastrointestinal bleeding or gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants .
The result ant increase in gastric pH may enhance the growth of pathogens and increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis ( NEC ) .
Our systematic review examined the association between  IGA and NEC in preterm infants .