Abstract | STUDY OBJECTIVE: DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Asthma scoring was performed by investigators not involved in treatment decisions and blinded to group assignment. SETTING: The PICU of an urban, university-affiliated, tertiary-care children's hospital. PATIENTS: Children with a diagnosis of status asthmaticus who were admitted to the PICU for < or = 2 h and who were in severe distress, as indicated by a modified Wood-Downes clinical asthma score (CAS) of > or = 5. INTERVENTIONS: MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Forty-seven children (median age, 8.3 years; range, 13 months to 17 years) completed the study. Twenty-three children received theophylline. The baseline CASs of both groups were similar and included three subjects receiving mechanical ventilation in each group. All subjects receiving mechanical ventilation and theophylline were intubated before drug infusion. Among the 41 subjects who were not receiving mechanical ventilation, those receiving theophylline achieved a CAS of < or = 3 sooner than control subjects (18.6 +/- 2.7 h vs 31.1 +/- 4.5 h; p < 0.05). Theophylline had no effect on the length of PICU stay or the total incidence of side effects. Subjects receiving theophylline had more emesis (p < 0.05), and control patients had more tremor (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | R S Ream, L L Loftis, G M Albers, B A Becker, R E Lynch, R B Mink |
Journal | Chest
(Chest)
Vol. 119
Issue 5
Pg. 1480-8
(May 2001)
ISSN: 0012-3692 [Print] United States |
PMID | 11348957
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Bronchodilator Agents
- Theophylline
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Topics |
- Bronchodilator Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Child
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Prospective Studies
- Severity of Illness Index
- Status Asthmaticus
(drug therapy)
- Theophylline
(administration & dosage)
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