Theophylline overdose

Treated witb cbarcoal hemoperfusioD in a child A 3-year-old 15kg girl given 750mg of theophylline in error during treatment for asthma was successfully treated with albumin-CQllodion activated charcoal (ACAC) hemopcrfusion. She was in hospital on a regimen of IV fluids, acetaminophen (paracetamoJ). albuterol (salbutamoJ) and theophylline (aminophylline injection USp, 0.25g/ I Omll. 75mg IV 6-hourly. On the second day she was mistakenly given 10 times the prescribed dose of theophylline. She became restless. developed tachycardia and vomited coffee ground material positive for occult blood. Her serum theophylline level was 6 711g/ ml I hour and 45 min after the overdose. Within 3 hours, ACAC hemoperfusion was started. Immediately before treatment her serum theophylline level was 74pg/ml. After 3 hours of hemoperfusion. this had fallen to 14.4pg/ml and 4 hours later it was 8.8I1g/ml. The ACAC hemopcrfusion system completely removed all the drug passing through it without becoming saturated, at a flow rate of 90ml/min. The total amount of drug removed was 500.8mg - more than two thirds of the dose given. The child recovered without sequelae and was discharged 4 days later. Chang. T.M.S. elOL P",hauics 65:: 811 (Apr 19801

0157-7271/80/0523-0007/0$00.50/0 © ADIS Press Reactions 23 May 1980 7