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Once daily theophylline in childhood asthma
Insights
A new sustained-release theophylline formulation effectively reduces nighttime asthma symptoms and improves morning lung function in children with moderate asthma when taken once daily. This single daily dose offers 24-hour protection against bronchospasm.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Asthma Management
Background:
- Asthma management in children requires effective, long-acting bronchodilator therapy.
- Sustained-release formulations aim to provide consistent symptom control and improve adherence.
- Theophylline remains a viable option for asthma treatment, necessitating optimized delivery systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel sustained-release theophylline preparation for 24-hour asthma symptom control.
- To assess the efficacy of a single, once-daily dose of the new theophylline formulation in pediatric asthmatics.
- To determine the impact of the preparation on nighttime symptoms and early morning lung function.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving fifteen children with moderate asthma.
- The study assessed the effects of a single daily dose of the sustained-release theophylline administered before bedtime.
- Key outcome measures included nighttime symptom scores and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).
Main Results:
- Significant reduction in nighttime asthma symptoms (P < 0.05).
- Significant improvement in mean early morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (P < 0.01).
- Significant decrease in the frequency of mornings with PEFR below 2 SD from the mean (P < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- The new sustained-release theophylline preparation, given once daily at bedtime, is effective for managing moderate childhood asthma.
- The formulation provides significant 24-hour protection, particularly by reducing nighttime symptoms and improving morning lung function.
- This once-daily regimen offers a suitable and effective treatment option for pediatric asthma control.
Abstract:
A new sustained-release theophylline preparation has been designed with the purpose of providing 24-hour protection against bronchospasm in asthmatics when given as a single dose. Fifteen children with moderate asthma completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of this product given once a day before bed. There was a significant fall in night symptoms (P less than 0.05), a rise in the mean early morning peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) (P less than 0.01) and a fall in the number of mornings on which PEFR was less than 2 SD under the mean for height (P less than 0.01). An improvement in mean day symptom scores and evening PEFR was not significant. Thus we have shown that this product given once a day before bed is suitable for this way.