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. 1984 Oct;141(4):485–490.

Use of β-Blockade and Hemoperfusion for Acute Theophylline Poisoning

Michael P Biberstein, Michael G Ziegler, David M Ward
PMCID: PMC1021859  PMID: 6506685

Abstract

Five adults were treated successfully for severe theophylline poisoning due to intentional overdosage. Clinical features included nausea, tremor, delirium, hypotension and cardiac arrhythmias, metabolic acidosis, hyperglycemia, hypokalemia and hypophosphatemia. No seizures or deaths occurred despite very high serum theophylline concentrations (between 96 and 194 μg per ml). Extreme elevations of plasma catecholamines were documented and are implicated in the toxicity. β-Blockade with intravenous administration of propranolol hydrochloride was the most effective therapy for theophylline-induced hypotension. All patients were treated with resin hemoperfusion, which resulted in significant clinical improvement and rapid lowering of the serum theophylline level.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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