Theophylline does not shorten hospital stay for children admitted for asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the use of intravenous theophylline, in the form of aminophylline, when added to systemic corticosteroids and aerosolized beta 2-agonists, enhances the improvement of children with acute asthma exacerbations.


METHODS
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial.


METHODS
The University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, an urban primary- and tertiary-care pediatric medical center.


METHODS
Forty-two children, aged 2 to 18 years, admitted to the hospital for acute exacerbations of asthma.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to receive either intravenous theophylline to maintain a serum level greater than 55 mumol/L or a placebo infusion. All patients received methylprednisolone and nebulized albuterol. A clinical severity score was assessed twice daily.


RESULTS
The mean length of stay for the treatment and control groups was 52.3 +/- 32.3 hours and 48.2 +/- 26.6 hours, respectively (t = 0.45, P = .65). The rate of improvement of clinical scores was similar.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that the addition of theophylline to albuterol and corticosteroids does not enhance improvement of children admitted to the hospital with asthma.
Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
J P
JP
Needleman
M C
MC
Kaifer
J T
JT
Nold
P E
PE
Shuster
M M
MM
Redding
J
J
Gladstein
D000293:Adolescent; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000628:Aminophylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
D000628:Aminophylline; D000420:Albuterol; D008775:Methylprednisolone