Dataset from Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) Infants Exposed to Furosemide or Bumetanide in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

This was a retrospective observational chart review to determine the incidence of events of special interest for hospitalized, extremely low birth weight infants admitted to one of two neonatal intensive care units and exposed to furosemide or bumetanide. The trial enrolled 679 infants, with 521 receiving furosemide treatment; 166 of these infants received bumetanide in addition to furosemide (no infants received bumetanide only). There were profound dosing differences between the two sites. Infants administered furosemide tended to be sicker than infants not administered furosemide at both sites. No association between diuretic use and death was found. Increased drug exposure was associated with higher rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia diagnosis. Rates of hearing loss, cerebral palsy diagnosis, and abnormal Bayley scores were low (<15%) at each site. Rates of both hearing loss and kidney stones differed between sites.