[Clinical review on patients who developed seizures during theophylline administration: relationships with seizure-predisposing factors].

OBJECTIVE

In recent years, attempts have been made to broadly deem seizures developing during theophylline administration as theophylline-related seizures. Consequently, a tendency to consider all the seizures attributable to theophylline has occurred. We investigated background factors in pediatric patients with seizures to examine the involvement of theophylline in the event.

METHODS

Of adverse events developing during theophylline administration which were reported by two theophylline preparation manufacturers between October 1987 and April 2004, we investigated underlying disease, regimen, outcome, and other items in 255 patients with seizures provoked by oral preparations and in 79 patients with seizures provoked by intravenous preparations.

RESULTS

The most predominant factors were represented by neurological predispositions, e.g., epilepsy, and by a history of fits prior to the onset of seizures in not less than two-thirds of pediatric patients with seizures who were receiving theophylline. Furthermore, not less than 90% of pediatric patients who remained with sequelae and who died had the factors. Our investigation revealed that the factors developed predominantly when the relevant patients presented fever, aged under 3 years and had history of seizures.

CONCLUSIONS

Therefore, we consider that advertence to this point is most important in administering theophylline safely.