FREE NEJM E-TOC    HOME   |   SUBSCRIBE   |   CURRENT ISSUE   |   PAST ISSUES   |   COLLECTIONS   |   Search Term  Advanced Search

Sign in | Get NEJM's E-Mail Table of Contents — Free | Subscribe

Previous Volume 305:249-252 July 30, 1981 Number 5 Next

	Add to Personal Archive Add to Citation Manager Notify a Friend E-mail When Cited PubMed Citation

Abstract

In an attempt to explain the clinical efficacy of aminophylline, we studied its effect on diaphragmatic function in eight normal subjects. The relation between the electrical activity of the diaphragm and the pressure generated by the diaphragm was assessed during voluntary contractions before and after aminophylline infusion. Aminophylline shifted the electrical activity/pressure curve to the left; the pressure at a given electrical activity increased an average of 15 per cent (P less than 0.001). In four subjects, pressure was also measured during stimulation of the phrenic nerve at various frequencies before and after diaphragmatic fatigue was produced by resistive breathing, with and without aminophylline infusion. Pressure increased after fatigue at all stimulation frequencies with aminophylline, as compared with the pressure after identical fatigue runs at the same stimulation frequencies without aminophylline. The mean plasma aminophylline concentration associated with these responses was 13 +/- 0.9 mg per liter. We conclude that aminophylline improves the diaphragm's contractility and renders it less susceptible to fatigue.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Barnes, P. J. (2003). Theophylline: New Perspectives for an Old Drug. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 167: 813-818 [Full Text]  
• Werner, H. A. (2001). Status Asthmaticus in Children : A Review. Chest 119: 1913-1929 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Fujii, Y., Takahashi, S., Toyooka, H. (1999). The Effect of Olprinone Compared with Milrinone on Diaphragmatic Muscle Function in Dogs. Anesth. Analg. 89: 781-781 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• McGuire, M., Carey, M. F., O'Connor, J. J. (1997). Almitrine and doxapram decrease fatigue and increase subsequent recovery in isolated rat diaphragm. J. Appl. Physiol. 83: 52-58 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Jones, R. E. (1995). A Common Factor for Cardiac or Respiratory Failure in SIDS. CLIN PEDIATR 34: 172-172  
• de Conno, F., Spoldi, E., Caraceni, A., Ventafridda, V. (1991). Does pharmacological treatment affect the sensation of breathlessness in terminal cancer patients?. Palliat Med 5: 237-243 [Abstract]  
• Jederlinic, P. J., Irwin, R. S. (1989). Status Asthmaticus. J Intensive Care Med 4: 166-184