Theophylline Disposition in Patients with COLD with and without Hypoxemia

This study aimed to assess the effect of hypoxemia on theophylline disposition. Ten patients with a mean (± SEM) of 58 ± 3 years with COLD (PaO2 55 ± 1 mm Hg, PaCO2 46 ± 2 mm Hg, and pH of 7.39 ± 0.01) were hospitalized to have oxygen therapy. Before starting O2, they received intravenously, 4 mg/kg of theophylline over a 20-minute period; blood samples and urine were collected for six hours. The results suggested that hypoxia does not influence the disposition of theophylline or its metabolites.