Determining the Effect of Spironolactone on Electrolyte Supplementation in Preterm Infants With Chronic Lung Disease

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), also known as chronic lung disease (CLD), is a major complication of premature birth and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia most commonly affects preterm infants who have required prolonged aggressive mechanical ventilation and/or oxygen supplementation. Risk factors associated with BPD include degree of prematurity, infection, mechanical ventilation, oxygen concentration, and nutritional status. Despite significant advances in the care of preterm infants and improved survival, the incidence of BPD has been fairly static over the past decade.

Diuretics and fluid restriction are considered a mainstay of therapy in the management of BPD to combat interstitial alveolar edema. Short courses of furosemide followed by long-term therapy using a thiazide diuretic with concurrent spironolactone have shown improvement in pulmonary function and better outcomes. Double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trials have shown improvement in pulmonary compliance, airway resistance, infants alive at discharge, and a decrease in fraction of inspired oxygen and need for furosemide boluses.

Spironolactone is a competitive aldosterone receptor antagonist that acts on the distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct to facilitate sodium excretion while conserving potassium and hydrogen ions. Since only a minimal amount of sodium filtered by the glomerulus reaches the distal tubule, spironolactone is considered a weak diuretic. Spironolactone is primarily used with chlorothiazide for its potassium-sparing effect to reduce the need for electrolyte supplementation. There has only been one prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing chlorothiazide with or without the addition of spironolactone in premature infants with chronic lung disease. This study demonstrated no difference between the groups in the need for electrolyte supplementation, electrolyte balance, or pulmonary function. In addition, preterm infants' distal tubules may respond inadequately to aldosterone; thereby, limiting the role of spironolactone in this patient population.

In the neonatal population, spironolactone is primarily used in addition with chlorothiazide for its potassium-sparing effects to reduce the need for electrolyte supplementation. However, evidence and current practice suggests the majority of patients still receive electrolyte supplementation. One study evaluated spironolactone's effect on the need for electrolyte supplementation, but there is no published data with a primary outcome evaluating spironolactone's effect on the quantity of electrolyte supplementation. We hypothesize there will be no difference in the amount of electrolyte supplementation between the two groups.