Effects of maturation and size on population pharmacokinetics of pentoxifylline and its metabolites in very preterm infants with suspected late‐onset sepsis or necrotizing enterocolitis: a pilot study incorporating clinical outcomes

AIMS: Infection‐induced inflammation is associated with adverse long‐term outcomes in preterm infants. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a candidate for adjunct immunomodulatory therapy in preterm infants with late‐onset sepsis (LOS) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), but pharmacokinetic data in this population are extremely limited. This study aims to characterize the pharmacokinetic properties of intravenous PTX and its metabolites in preterm infants. METHOD: An open label pilot clinical study of intravenous PTX as an adjunct therapy in preterm infants (gestation