Stability of pulmonary function during periodic intravenous bolus aminophylline therapy.

Peak expiratory flow, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at 1 sec, and midmaximal expiratory flow were measured immediately before and 1 hr after a scheduled intravenous maintenance dose of aminophylline in 12 recently hospitalized asthmatic patients. Serum theophylline concentrations were also determined. No significant improvement was noted in any of these pulmonary function tests despite a significant increase in serum theophylline concentration (10.5 +/- 5.2 to 18.2 +/- 6.3 micrograms/ml, p < 0.001). These results were consistent with previously developed pharmacologic response theory.