Monitoring aminophylline therapy using Jusko's dosage guidelines

Treatment with aminophylline, according to the nomogram published by Jusko and coworkers, was monitored in 13 patients suffering from acute exacerbations of COPD. After 24 h of therapy, the clinical state, the pO2 and the pCO2 values were markedly improved. Theophylline plasma concentrations were maintained within the therapeutic range. A slight but noticeable increase of drug serum levels during therapy could be related to changes in the arterial pH; the implications of this finding are discussed.