title: Clinical relevance of theophylline chronokinetics for asthmatic children.
abstract: In two studies, 25 diurnally active patients (6-17 years of age) were evaluated for day-night differences in serum theophylline concentration (STC) by frequent blood sampling over two consecutive 12-hr dosing intervals while being treated with Theo-Dur. In both studies, findings were similar; Cmax was greater and Tmax shorter following dosing at 0700 or 0800 vs. 1900 or 2000 with Cmax -Cmin approximately 7 micrograms/ml over the 24 hr. After the morning dosing, 22 of 25 patients exhibited Cmax within 4 hr; 23 of 25 exhibited Cmin 12 hr after this dosing. After the evening ingestion, the situation was very different: Cmin occurred within the initial 4 hr in 21 of 25 patients, whereas Cmax occurred in 22 of 25 patients just prior to the next (morning) dose. The findings indicate the most appropriate time to estimate Cmax in Theo-Dur-treated children is within the 4 hr after the morning ingestion. The best time to estimate Cmin is a few hours after the evening ingestion. Sampling at these times is likely to represent within 10-20% the actual Cmax or Cmin.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D013806:Theophylline