Reactions 404 - 6 Jun 1992

★ STheophylline overdose

Adverse effects in a neonate (first report ofhypercalcaemia): case report

Acute toxicity developed in a 5-day-old premature boy whohad accidentally received aminophylline 180mg over 26 hours,during treatment for bradycardia. The main manifestationswere hyperventilation, tachycardia, increased diuresis,hyperexcitability, hypercalcaemia, an increase in bloodglucose levels followed by a prolonged decrease and mildproteinuria and glycosuria.

Upon discontinuation of aminophylline, the neonate’splasma theophylline level was 88.4 mcg/ml. He recoveredwithout neurological sequelae, and subsequent observationover 7 years revealed no abnormalities in CNS function ormental development.

Author comment:Analysis at the time of theophyllinepoisoning in this case suggested that, in neonatal theophyllinepoisoning, theophylline metabolites accumulate despite a loglinear decline of plasma theophylline levels. Theophyllinemetabolites exert theophylline-like effects, ’therefore, closemonitoring of intoxicated neonates is still mandatory even ifTH theophylline plasma concentrations are already in thetherapeutic range’. Editorial comment: A search of the Adisdatabase revealed no other reports of hypercalcaemia inassociation with theophylline overdose in neonates.Skopnik H, et al. Neonatal theophylline intoxication: pharmacokinetics and clinicalevaluation. European Journal of Pediatrics 151: 221-224, Mar 1992 -Germany 800132066

» Editorial comment: A search of the Adis database revealedno other reports of hypercalcaemia in association withtheophylline overdose in neonates.

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Reactions 6 Jun 1992 No. 4040114-9954/10/0404-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved