Development and application of a population pharmacokinetic model repository for caffeine dose tailoring in preterm infants

BackgroundConsiderable interindividual variability for the pharmacokinetics of caffeine in preterm infants has been demonstrated, emphasizing the importance of personalized dosing. This study aimed to develop and apply a repository of currently published population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) models of caffeine in preterm infants to facilitate model-informed precision dosing (MIPD).Research design and methodsLiterature search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Relevant publications were screened, and their quality was assessed. PopPK models were reestablished to develop the model repository. Covariate effects were evaluated and the concentration-time profiles were simulated. An online simulation and calculation tool was developed as an instance.ResultsTwelve PopPK models were finally included in the repository. Preterm infants' age and body size, especially the postnatal age and current weight, were identified as the most clinically critical covariates. Simulated blood concentration-time profiles across these models were comparable. Caffeine citrate-dose regimen should be adjusted according to the age and body size of preterm infants. The developed online tool can be used to facilitate clinical decision-making.ConclusionsThe first developed repository of PopPK models for caffeine in preterm infants has a wide range of potential applications in the MIPD of caffeine.