THEOPHYLLINE TOXICITY IN A PREMATURE NEONATE - ELIMINATION KINETICS OF EXCHANGE-TRANSFUSION

Exchange transfusion was utilized in the treatment of a 1871 gram fema le, 32 weeks gestational age, who received an IV bolus of aminophyllin e at II h for the treatment of apnea, with subsequent tachycardia and hypotension. At 22 h, plasma theophylline was 369.29 mu mol/L (67 mg/L ). During a single volume exchange transfusion at 33 h, the plasma the ophylline decreased 19% and the estimated removal of theophylline was 13.5% of the whole body theophylline. The theophylline apparent half-t imes before, during, and after the exchange were 52.5, 6.6, and 53.3 h respectively.