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USING SALIVA TO MONITOR THEOPHYLLINE THERAPY.

The authors measured theophylline concentrations in 137 paired blood and saliva specimens obtained from 68 children, aged 2 months to 14 years, who were treated with oral slow-release theophylline preparations, and from 11 patients on IV aminophylline. Salivary secretion was stimulated by placing 5 mg of citric-acid crystals directly on the tongue and promptly collecting 1 to 2 ml of saliva (theophylline secretion is not influenced by pH or flow rate). No side effects or cooperation problems were observed.

There was a significant correlation between the plasma and salivary levels of theophylline; the mean plasma to saliva ratio was 1.78. Salivary levels of 5.6 to 11.2 mg/ml correlated with therapeutic plasma levels of 10 to 20 mg/ml.

These data corroborate several previous studies on the use of saliva to monitor theophylline concentrations, which provides a way to painlessly evaluate children on maintenance therapy. However, this study did not evaluate short-acting oral theophylline preparations or asthmatic children with acute exacerbations of their disease.

— PMM

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine January 1, 1988

Citation(s):

Aviram M; Asher T; Ben Zvi Z; Gorodischer R. Monitoring theophylline therapy using citric acid- stimulated saliva in infants and children with asthma. Pediatrics 1987 Dec 80 894-897.

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