Relationship between plasma and stimulated-saliva concentrations of theophylline in asthmatic children
Krivoy, N.; Zinman, P.; Hoffer, E.; Teitelman, U.; Rubin, A.
Pharmatherapeutica 4(5): 285-287
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0308-051X PMID: 4070321 Document Number: 250253
The trough steady-state concentration of theophylline in plasma and stimulated saliva of 12 asthmatic children receiving an oral slow-release theophylline preparation was determined after 1 week of treatment. Plasma theophylline concentration ranged from 3.6 to 10.8 microgram/ml and saliva concentration ranged from 3.2 to 7.0 microgram/ml. There was an excellent linear relationship between theophylline concentration in plasma and stimulated saliva (r=0.89, p is less than 0.001). These observations suggest that theophylline therapy could be monitored routinely using stimulated saliva. This may be a convenient, painless and non-invasive alternative for routine monitoring of theophylline levels in asthmatic children.