Effect of theophylline on serum uric acid levels in children with asthma.

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of theophylline on serum uric acid levels in children with asthma. Twenty-seven asthmatic children, including 21 patients who were treated with slow-release theophylline and 6 patients not receiving any type of theophylline preparation, were enrolled in this study. Serum uric acid levels were increased in the asthmatic children treated with theophylline compared to those not receiving this agent (6.28 +/- 0.29 mg/dl, mean +/- SEM, vs. 4.82 +/- 0.52 mg/dl, p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation between the serum levels of uric acid and theophylline was demonstrated in the patients of this study (rs = 0.596, p < 0.01). All the patients in whom theophylline administration was stopped showed significant decreases in serum uric acid levels (p < 0.05). From these results, we conclude that theophylline increases serum uric acid levels in children with asthma, just as it does in adult asthmatics.