[Determination of the optimal dose of aminophylline in children with severe asthmatic attacks].

The therapeutic effect of aminophylline in children having severe asthmatic attacks with a special emphasis on an appropriate dose, adequate administration and measurement of serum aminophylline concentrations is presented. The study group consisted of 24 patients with severe asthmatic attacks. The patients were assigned to three groups according to the dosage of aminophylline administered. Patients in Group 1 received a dose of 7 mg/kg body weight, those in Group 2 5 mg/kg body weight and those in Group 3 (previously treated with theophylline) 4 mg/kg body weight. For each patient, clinical and laboratory parameters were followed. The results demonstrated that adequate therapeutic response and optimal serum theophylline concentrations were achieved only in Group 1. Patients in which lower doses of aminophylline were employed (Group 2 and Group 3) showed neither the adequate therapeutic response not did achieve the adequate serum theophylline concentrations, and administration of aminophylline had to be repeated. In the majority of patients, mild hyperglicemia was noticed. The mechanism and the sequence of events how it occurred was not determined. In conclusion, this data show that aminophylline, if administered in an adequate dose, is a drug of choice in the treatment of children with severe asthmatic attacks.