E. Eldesoky et al., DISPOSITION OF INTRAVENOUS THEOPHYLLINE IN ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN - BAYESIAN-APPROACH VS DIRECT PHARMACOKINETIC CALCULATIONS, Japanese Journal of Pharmacology, 75(1), 1997, pp. 13-20
Fifteen children (mean age+/-SD: 6.4+/-3.4, range: 2-12 years) with an
acute asthma attack were treated by an intravenous dosage regimen of
theophylline (30 min loading infusion of 6 mg/kg body weight followed
by a constant infusion of 1 mg/kg, twice for 6 hr each). Three blood s
amples were drawn (each 15 min after the bolus infusion and after the
two infusion periods of 6 hr). Plasma clearance (CL), apparent volume
of distribution (Vd) and elimination half-life (t(1/2)) were estimated
by the Bayesian approach using either only the first peak level (Bay
1) or all three monitored concentrations (Bay 3). These values were co
mpared to the parameters calculated by a standard pharmacokinetic proc
edure (SC). Therapeutic steady state plasma levels around 12 mu g/ml w
ere rapidly achieved, and the pharmacokinetic parameters (CL=1.1-1.5 m
l/min/kg, Vd=0.44-0.50 l/kg, t(1/2)=3.5-5.4 hr) differed slightly betw
een the 3 methods applied. There was a significant linear correlation
between the Bayesian-derived and SC-derived pharmacokinetic parameters
. However the method Bay I seems to overestimate the elimination rate
of theophylline more than Bay 3 does. In conclusion, Bayesian-based th
erapeutic plasma level monitoring (Bay 3 are better than Bay 1) can be
utilized for individualized pharmacokinetic calculations and proper d
osage predictions of theophylline in pediatric patients.