PEDIATRICS Vol. 82 No. 6 December 1988, pp. 880-883
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kurland, G.
Right arrow Articles by Marquardt, E. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kurland, G.
Right arrow Articles by Marquardt, E. D.

Prediction of Intravenous Theophylline Dosage Based on a Single, Nonsteady-State Concentration: A Clinical Study of Childhood Status Asthmaticus

Geoffrey Kurland MD1, Donald A. Anderson PharmD1, J. Chris Mitsuoka PharmD1, and Eric D. Marquardt PharmD1

1 From the Departments of Pediatrics and Pharmacy, University of California, Davis Medical Center, and the Pharmacy and Support Services, County of Sacramento, Sacramento

A pharmacokinetic model was applied to achieve therapeutic serum theophylline concentrations rapidly in 25 children with status asthmaticus. A sustained release theophylline preparation had been taken within 36 hours by 12 children; within 14 hours, seven had taken an immediate release preparation; for six children, no theophylline was taken before hospital admission. Single serum theophylline concentrations were determined at nonsteady-state conditions within 13.5 hours of admission (median 6.75 hours). An iterative program was applied to predict the steady-state theophylline concentration as well as necessary adjustments in dosage. Measured steady-state concentrations were then compared with the predicted values. The median measured steady-state concentration was 15 mg/L, and the median predicted steady-state level was 13 mg/L. The least squares regression line was: Measured = 0.738 predicted + 4.77; r = .721, P < .01. No patient experienced symptoms of toxicity. This technique affords the possibility of accurate prediction of steady-state theophylline concentrations and dosing requirements with a minimum number of serum concentration determinations in children with status asthmticus.

Key Words: theophylline • steady state • pharmacokinetics • asthma

Submitted on March 17, 1987