Theophylline blood levels as a guide to intravenous therapy in children
J. Fox, P. Hicks, B. R. Feldman, W. J. Davis and C. H. Feldman
A retrospective analysis of the records of 56 children admitted in status
asthmaticus was done to assess the impact of serum theophylline levels on
subsequent therapeutic decisions. In 39% of the cases, levels obtained
following the initial theophylline bolus were below therapeutic range and
in 6% they were above therapeutic range. In 31% of instances of
theophylline levels obtained during the phase of continuous aminophylline
infusion, the physician decided to administer additional theophylline. The
median hospital stay was 2.65 days. Monitoring serum theophylline levels
following intravenous loading and during continuous infusion provides the
physician with a valuable clinical tool and may help to shorten the period
of hospitalization for patients in status asthmaticus.