Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of aminophylline in prevention of apnea of prematurity. Methods Forty-two infants with gestational age ＜34 weeks admitted to department of pediatrics, Guangzhou first people's hospital between Sep. 2014 and Mar. 2016 were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group and aminophylline group. Control group(n=20): 20 infants received warming, oxygen inhalation, supplement energy, maintain airway patency, physical stimulation, such as symptomatic treatment, without aminophylline or any other drugs for improving breathing. Aminophylline group(n=22): In addition to the control group treatment measures, 22 infants received a loading dose of 5 mg/kg of aminophylline and then maintained by a dose of 2mg/kg with intravenous drip q 12 h. Then we compared the efficacy and adverse effects of the two groups. Results ①There was no significant difference in gender, gestational age, birth weight, maternal antenatal glucocorticoid application, pregnancy(including multiple pregnancy) and delivery,5 min Apgar score, oxygen therapy, the application of mechanical ventilation, nasal continuous positive airway pressure, and the low-medium flow oxygen inhalation between the 2 groups(all P＞0.05). ② Compared with the control group, the incidence of apnea in aminophylline group were significant lower, and the time needed for apnea to disappear were significant shorter(all P＞0.05). ③ The incidence of cerebral white matter development dysplasia of aminophylline group(63.6%,14/22 cases) were significant higher than the control group(25%,5/20 cases, P＜0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in hearing loss, feeding intolerance, blood glucose disturbance, blood lipid metabolism disorder, hemoglobin decrease, electrolyte disorder, body weight at discharge, the duration and cost of hospitalization between the 2 groups(all P＞0.05). ④ The incidence of retinal incompleted development of aminophylline group(40.9%, 9/22 cases) were higher than control group(15.0%, 3/20 cases), but there was no statistical significance between the 2 groups(P＞0.05). Conclusion Effects of aminophylline in treating apnea of prematurity is positive, but it is likely to increase the risk of premature brain white matter development dysplasia and the risk of retinal incompleted development.