title: Saliva and serum theophylline concentration in management of asthma in children on sustained-release therapy.
abstract: Relationships between theophylline concentrations in saliva and serum and lung functions were investigated in 27 asthmatic children receiving a sustained-release theophylline. Improvements in lung functions were related to increasing theophylline concentrations. The concentration required to maintain normal lung functions was 10 micrograms/ml in serum and 7 micrograms/ml in saliva. Theophylline concentrations in serum and saliva statistically correlated (r = 0.949). The mean serum - saliva ratio was 1.45 +/- 0.02, with a 13.7% intersubject and a 14.9% intrasubject variation. Predicted serum concentrations were +/- 2 micrograms/ml of measured concentrations in 92 samples (92%). From the results, theophylline concentrations in saliva may be useful in predicting serum values.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008450:Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013806:Theophylline