Question

A patient with a history of asthma has been receiving Aminophylline by IV over the last 24 hours in an attempt to promote bronchodilation. Which of the following data would be helpful in assessing the effectiveness of therapy?

A. Determine the PD50
B. Perform a bronchoscopy to assess the degree of bronchocontstriction
C. Evaluate Theophylline level
D. Recommend a V/Q scan

Answer 1

To evaluate the effectiveness of Aminophylline therapy, the most appropriate choice would be to measure Theophylline levels in the patient. This ensures the dose is within the therapeutic range and avoids toxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

To assess the effectiveness of Aminophylline therapy for a patient with asthma, you would want to evaluate Theophylline levels. Aminophylline is a compound that is metabolized into Theophylline in the body, which acts as a bronchodilator, easing breathing in asthma patients. Theophylline levels are measured to ensure they are within the therapeutic range, not too low (ineffective) and not too high (toxicity risk).

Other options such as determining the PD50 (which is a pharmacological determination of the dose required to produce 50% of the drug's desired effect) are not practical for routine clinical assessment. A bronchoscopy is an invasive procedure to physically view the airways, not typically used to monitor medication effectiveness. A V/Q scan is used to assess pulmonary ventilation and blood flow, which would not directly measure the effectiveness of bronchodilator therapy.