THEOPHYLLINE DOES NOT SHORTEN HOSPITAL STAY FOR CHILDREN ADMITTED FORASTHMA

Objective: To determine if the use of intravenous theophylline, in the form of aminophylline, when added to systemic corticosteroids and aer osolized beta(2)-agonists, enhances the improvement of children with a cute asthma exacerbations. Design: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial. Setting: The University of Maryland Medic al Center, Baltimore, an urban primary- and tertiary-care pediatric me dical center. Patients: Forty-two children, aged 2 to 18 years, admitt ed to the hospital for acute exacerbations of asthma. Methods: Patient s were randomized to receive either intravenous theophylline to mainta in a serum level greater than 55 mu mol/L or a placebo infusion. All p atients received methylprednisolone and nebulized albuterol. A clinica l severity score was assessed twice daily. Results: The mean length of stay for the treatment and control groups was 52.3 +/- 32.3 hours and 48.2 +/- 26.6 hours, respectively (t=0.45, P=.65). The rate of improv ement of clinical scores was similar. Conclusion: These data suggest t hat the addition of theophylline to albuterol and corticosteroids does not enhance improvement of children admitted to the hospital with ast hma.