Rectal aminophylline (blood levels with concentrated solutions).

YLLINE'(theophylline ethylenediamine) is one of the most useful drugs employed in the management of bronchial asthma . Its therapeutic effects are closely related to its blood level.' This should approximate from 5 to 9 mcg/ml in serum. Segal et al in 1949 demonstrated that a rectal solution of 0 .5 gm of aminophylline in 15 cc water yielded a significant degree of protection against histamine and methacholine induced bronchospasm in asthmatics, equal or superior to that produced by the intravenous injection . This protection occurred with theophylline blood levels of 500 ug/100 ml or more . 3 The present study was conducted to assess the blood levels obtained with a concentrated solution of aqueous aminophylline (60 mg per cc) -