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Science 14 December 1979:
Vol. 206. no. 4424, pp. 1319 - 1321
DOI: 10.1126/science.515734
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Articles

Science, Vol 206, Issue 4424, 1319-1321
Copyright © 1979 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Metabolism of theophylline to caffeine in human fetal liver

JV Aranda, AT Louridas, BB Vitullo, P Thom, A Aldridge, and R Haber

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a biotransformation product of theophylline (1,3-dimethylxanthine) in the human fetus. Liver explants, obtained from human fetuses with gestational ages of 12 to 20 weeks, were incubated with theophylline and produced caffeine and, in lesser amounts, 1,3-dimethyluric acid and 3-methylxanthine. These findings suggest that the predominant pathway in theophylline metabolism in the fetus and newborn infant is the methylation reaction producing caffeine. This may contribute to the neonate's exceedingly slower elimination of caffeine relative to theophylline. Caffeine produced from theophylline may add to the pharmacologic effects of theophylline in newborn infants with apnea.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Theophylline Toxicokinetics in Premature Newborns.
J. A. Lowry, R. V. Jarrett, G. Wasserman, G. Pettett, and R. E. Kauffman (2001)
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 155, 934-939
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The Health Consequences of Caffeine.
P. W. CURATOLO and D. ROBERTSON (1983)
Ann Intern Med 98, 641-653
   Abstract »    PDF »


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