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Plasma concentrations of salbutamol in the treatment of acute asthma in a pediatric emergency. Could age be a parameter of influence?

  • Pharmacokinetics and Disposition
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

The objective was to determine if the plasma concentrations of salbutamol, obtained during inhalation treatment of infantile acute asthma, are influenced by age range and by the aerosol system used.

Method

A randomized clinical trial was conducted in 46 children (1–5 years of age) with a diagnosis of acute asthma crisis, established in an emergency room pediatric service. Twenty-five children received salbutamol using a pressurized metered-dose inhaler with spacer (50 µg/kg), and 21 children received salbutamol by nebulization (150 µg/kg),three times during a 1-h period. At the end of the treatment, one blood sample was drawn and the plasma was stored for later determination of salbutamol concentration (liquid chromatography). Salbutamol plasma concentrations were compared in two age groups (≤2 years and >2 years of age). The type of device used (pressurized metered-dose inhaler or nebulizer) and the need of hospitalization were also tested. The Mann-Whitney U test was used with the level of significance set at 5% (P < 0.05).

Results

No differences were detected regarding either the aerosol delivery system used or the need for hospitalization in relation to the plasma concentrations of salbutamol. However, higher plasma levels were found in patients >2 years vs patients ≤2 years [median (IQR): 9.40 (6.32–18.22) vs. 4.65 (2.77–10.10) ng/mL], demonstrating a significance difference (P = 0.05).

Conclusion

Salbutamol plasma concentrations were influenced by age group of the patients submitted to inhalation therapy, even with doses adjusted for body weight. After correcting for the differences in the biovailabilities of the delivery systems, the concentrations were independent of the aerosol delivery device used.

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Acknowledgments

This work is connected with the Post-Graduation Program in Health Sciences, Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre (FFFCMPA), RS, Brazil. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pharmacy, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Eloni T. Rotta

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre (FFFCMPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Sérgio L. Amantéa

  3. Pediatric Emergency Service, Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio (HCSA)-Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Sérgio L. Amantéa

  4. Pharmacy School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Pedro E. Froehlich

  5. Pediatric Emergency Service, Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio (HCSA)-Complexo Hospitalar Santa Casa, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Adriana Becker

  6. Avenida Iguaçu 463 conj. 503 Bairro Petrópolis, 90470-430, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Sérgio L. Amantéa

Authors
  1. Eloni T. Rotta
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  2. Sérgio L. Amantéa
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  3. Pedro E. Froehlich
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  4. Adriana Becker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sérgio L. Amantéa.

Additional information

Specific contribution of each author: Eloni Rotta participated in the collection and analysis of the data and wrote the initial manuscript; Sérgio L. Amantéa conceptualized and planned the study, participated in the analysis of the data and edited the final draft of the article; Adriana Becker participated in the collection, analysis and writing of the paper at the end of the study; Pedro E. Froehlich participated in the planning, validation of the analytical process, and writing of paper at the end of the study.

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Rotta, E.T., Amantéa, S.L., Froehlich, P.E. et al. Plasma concentrations of salbutamol in the treatment of acute asthma in a pediatric emergency. Could age be a parameter of influence?. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 66, 605–610 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0787-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-010-0787-4

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