Use of Oral Erythromycin for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Dysmotility in Preterm Infants

Milk intolerance due to functional gastrointestinal (GI) dysmotility is a common problem in preterm infants. In the past decade, erythromycin has been used for its motilinomimetric effect to facilitate enteral feeding in preterm infants. Although earlier studies suggested that erythromycin is an effective prokinetic agent, recent randomized control trials ( RCTs) reveal conflicting findings. This review assesses the evidence from all RCTs performed to date on erythromycin for preterm infants. The results suggest that oral erythromycin administered in intermediate or high doses as a rescue treatment is associated with a shorter time to attain full enteral feeding and decrease in the duration of requirement for parenteral nutrition. More importantly, the outcome study further indicates that oral erythromycin can reduce the incidence of parenteral nutrition-associated cholestasis by almost 50% and decreases the incidence of recurrent septicemia. None of the RCTs reported any sinister adverse effects, in particular, hypertrophic infantile pyloric stenosis or fatal cardiac arrhythmia. Nonetheless, as long-term outcomes have not been fully evaluated, neonatologists should use this treatment cautiously and selectively in preterm infants with moderately severe GI dysmotility. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel