Pharmacokinetics of intravenous theophylline in Jordanians

ABSTRACT

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous theophylline were investigated in fifteen healthy adult, male, non-smoking, Jordaninan volunteers. A short aminophylline infusion was administered [4.3 mg/kg theophylline] over 15 minutes. Serum theophylline levels were measured using a fluorescence polarization immunoassay. At the end of infusion, serum theophylline levels were [mean +/- SEM] 10.5 +/- 1.2 micro g/ml. The serum concentration-time data were best fit by a one compartment open model. Pharmacokinetic parameters were Mean theophylline elimination half-life [t1/2] was 10.03 +/- 0.65 hr; apparent volume of distribution [Vd] was 0.46 +/- 0.0058 L/kg and clearance was 0.031 +/- 0.002 L/kg. The theophylline elimination half-life reported in this investigation is longer than what was reported in most of the previous studies in Western populations. The reason for this is not known, however, it may be due to differences in dietary habit and/or environmental factors