title: Theophylline-induced seizures in a 6-month-old girl. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid levels.
abstract: The case is presented of a 6-month-old girl with theophylline-induced focal seizures associated with tachycardia, tremor and irritability. The serum level of theophylline was 20.0 micrograms/ml 30 min after the onset of seizures, and declined to half this level at 19 h. The ratio of the concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF; 8.9 micrograms/ml) to serum (16.4 micrograms/ml) was 0.54 at 4.5 h after the onset. Despite the cessation of seizures, the EEG showed periodic high voltage delta waves over the right hemisphere and left-sided flatness. Since theophylline diffuses easily through the blood-brain barrier in infancy, serum levels should be maintained below 15 micrograms/ml unless severe bronchial asthma occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yanagawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taketazu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
mesh_terms: D001991:Bronchitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D012640:Seizures / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013806:Theophylline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013806:Theophylline