title: Serum theophylline levels in asthmatic children receiving sustained-release theophylline tablets.
abstract: Serum theophylline levels produced in asthmatic children by sustained-release theophylline tablets (TheoDur) were studied. Nineteen patients received for 14 days a dose of 5.5 to 13.1 mg/kg (mean 9.1 mg/kg) of amhydrous theophylline (as sustained-release TheoDur tablets) every 12 hours. Theophylline serum levels were assayed, by cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography, immediately before and at 4, 6 and 10 hours after the first day-five dose. Symptoms of asthma and theophylline toxicity were recorded. Mean peak-trough difference for the 6-to-10-years age group (4.5 +/- 1.6 microgram/ml) was not significantly different than that of the 11-to-17-year age group (5.2 +/- 3.2 micrograms/ml) (p greater than 0.1). Therapeutic serum theophylline levels (8 to 20 micrograms/ml) were maintained throughout a 12-hour period in 12 patients. Two patients had side effects possibly attributable to theophylline. Four patients reported asthamtic symptoms on two or more evenings; none required emergency treatment. The study suggests that sustained-release theophylline tablets administered every 12 hours can maintain therapeutic serum levels in children.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D013607:Tablets; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013607:Tablets; D013806:Theophylline