Intravenous aminophylline in patients with cystic fibrosis. Pharmacokinetics and effect on pulmonary function
G. L. Larsen, R. J. Barron, R. A. Landay, E. K. Cotton, M. A. Gonzalez and J. G. Brooks
Intravenous aminophylline was administered to ten patients with cystic
fibrosis (CF) to determine if the medication would improve pulmonary
function and to study theophylline pharmacokinetics. Intravenous normal
saline was given on another day as a control. Thoracic gas volume and
airway resistance, measured in a volume displacement body plethysmograph,
and maximal expiratory flow-volume curves were performed before and after
each infusion. No significant improvement was noted in pulmonary function
after normal saline infusion. Following aminophylline infusion. Following
aminophylline infusion, significant improvement in thoracic gas volume,
residual volume, specific airway conductance, and maximal expiratory flow
at 60% of total lung capacity was noted. The pharmacokinetic analysis
revealed a mean half-life of 4.7 hours, a total clearance of 91 mL/hr/kg,
and a volume of distribution of 574 mL/kg. Intravenous aminophylline can
acutely decrease airway obstruction in children with CF.
