Individualizing theophylline therapy: the impact of clinical pharmacokinetics on patient outcomes

Abstract

We have studied 19 male patients whose theophylline therapy was individualized by a clinical pharmacokinetics service and 34 male patients with empirically derived dosages. All patients were admitted to the medical intensive care unit. Patients in the pharmacokinetics group had fewer adverse reactions (15.7 vs. 50%), shorter intensive care unit stay (6.6 +/- 5.5 vs. 12.4 +/- 16.3 days), shorter hospital stay (15.4 +/- 10 vs. 22.3 +/- 14.1 days), and a shorter period of time to be placed on oral therapy (5.2 +/- 3.1 vs. 8.6 +/- 7.2 days) than the group with empirically derived regimens. The pharmacokinetic method used to individualize theophylline therapy offered an accurate and efficient method of achieving therapeutic concentrations. We conclude that the use of clinical pharmacokinetics to individualize theophylline therapy offers substantial benefits over empirical assessments.