The efficacy of oral theophylline in ventilated premature infants.
40 ventilated premature infants, with gestational ages of 24-34 weeks and a mean birthweight of 1422 g, were entered into a randomised controlled trial. 20 of the infants received orally 5 mg/ml anhydrous theophylline dissolved in 20% pure alcohol, with a loading dose of 5 mg/kg and then 1.25 mg/kg every 6 h. Plasma samples were assayed via an emit enzyme immunoassay, demonstrating satisfactory serum levels in all infants at 54 h after the loading dose. Possible side-effects were seen only in two infants, in one a tachycardia (220 beats/min) and the other became agitated during treatment.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D001724:Birth Weight; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007700:Kinetics; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D014508:Urea; D012964:Sodium; D013806:Theophylline; D011188:Potassium