Theophylline blood levels as a guide to intravenous therapy in children.

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of the records of 56 children admitted in status asthmaticus was done to assess the impact of serum theophylline levels on subsequent therapeutic decisions. In 39% of the cases, levels obtained following the initial theophylline bolus were below therapeutic range and in 6% they were above therapeutic range. In 31% of instances of theophylline levels obtained during the phase of continuous aminophylline infusion, the physician decided to administer additional theophylline. The median hospital stay was 2.65 days. Monitoring serum theophylline levels following intravenous loading and during continuous infusion provides the physician with a valuable clinical tool and may help to shorten the period of hospitalization for patients in status asthmaticus.

• Authors: J Fox, P Hicks, B R Feldman, W J Davis, C H Feldman
• Journal: American journal of diseases of children (1960) (Am J Dis Child) Vol. 136 Issue 10 Pg. 928-30 (Oct 1982) ISSN: 0002-922X [Print] United States
• PMID: 7124680 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Theophylline

Topics

• Adolescent
• Asthma (blood, drug therapy)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Humans
• Infant
• Infusions, Parenteral
• Length of Stay
• Metabolic Clearance Rate
• Retrospective Studies
• Theophylline (administration & dosage, blood)