Reassessing the therapeutic range for theophylline on laboratory report forms: the importance of 5-15 micrograms/ml.
The therapeutic status of theophylline has changed dramatically over the last decade. As part of this change, a different view of the most appropriate therapeutic range for serum theophylline concentration (STC) has emerged. The National Institutes of Health Expert Panel Report, "Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma," suggests a conservative approach of aiming for STC of 5-15 micrograms/ml. This truly landmark document along with several studies in the literature, recently prompted us to change our hospital's laboratory report form for the medical record to read that the therapeutic range for STC is 5-15 micrograms/ml. We encourage hospital laboratories or other clinical laboratories who have not already made this change to do so.
Self
T H
TH
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tennessee, Memphis 38163.
Heilker
G M
GM
Alloway
R R
RR
Kelso
T M
TM
Abou-Shala
N
N
D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood
D013806:Theophylline