Intravenous Theophylline after Beta₂-Agonist Treatment in Severe Acute Asthma. Effect on Patients Who Are Not Pre-treated with Theophylline

Abstract

The effect of i.v. theophylline after high-dose β₂-agonist treatment in severe acute asthma was studied in 30 patients from a multicentre study who reported not having taken theophylline during the last 24 hours. One hour after the start of inhaled or i.v. salbutamol treatment, all patients received 6 mg/kg of i.v. theophylline. The plasma concentration 30 minutes after the start of the theophylline infusion was 78 ± 13 μmol/l (mean ± SD). The mean change (Δ) in peak expiratory flow (PEF) was 8 ± 6% of the predicted 30 minutes after the theophylline infusion and 7 ± 5% 60 minutes after it. The increase in PEF was greater in this patient group than in a group of 101 patients from the same multicentre study who were on theophylline medication and were therefore given a reduced dose (3 mg/kg) (7 ± 5 vs. 4 ± 6% of the predicted value, p < 0.01). The proportion of patients with an increase in PEF of ≥ 10% of the predicted at discharge was 27% (8/30) in the patient group in this investigation and 14% (14/101) in the group who was on theophylline treatment.