PHARMACODYNAMICS OF THEOPHYLLINE (EUPHYLL INE)

A single intravenous administration of 2.4 %-10.0 euphyllin to 35 pati ents with obstructive affections of the lungs entailed a broncholytic effect in large airways in patients with reversible obstruction under subtherapeutica theophylline concentrations in the serum. In patients with mixed type of the obstruction and restrictive disturbances ineffe ctive ventilation got worse, ventilation-perfusion relations desagreed , hemoglobin affinity to oxygen grew, pulmonary artery pressure droppe d against the signs of pulmonary hypertension, EEG changed according t o asynchronism pattern corresponding to brain hyperactivity. There was also elevation of both norepinephrine and epinephrine serum levels du e to slow parenchymous hepatic circulation which inhibited clearance o f the substances There was no relationship between changes in the indi ces and theophylline concentrations in the range 3.8-8.8 gg/ml.