The effect of age on theophylline clearance in normal subjects

Dose-interval AUC and clearance of theophylline at steady-state were determined in healthy male subjects in each of three age groups (18-35, 36-54 and 55-70 years old). Mean AUC in the oldest group was significantly higher than in the youngest and clearance in both the middle and oldest groups was significantly lower than in the youngest. Though clearance was significantly correlated with age, age alone accounted for only 31% of the variability in clearance.