Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with study durations ranging from 24 to 36 hours, and until discharge, were included.
Specific interventions included in the review
IV Aminophylline or IV theophylline in the context of standard therapy for asthma, i.e. the treatment groups also received other bronchodilators and steroids, while the comparison groups received the same standard therapy, with the omission of theophylline.
Participants included in the review
Children hospitalised with acute asthma. Overall, the included patients were aged 1.5 to 18 years. Mean ages reported by the included trials ranged from 7 to 12 years.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The outcomes reported by the individual studies were transformed into effect sizes, which expressed the difference in mean score between the treatment and comparison group in units of measurement. These outcomes varied from trial to trial, but included measures of forced expiratory volume (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC), changes in clinical scores, respiratory and pulse rates, duration of hospital stay, and need for albuterol nebulisations. Information on adverse effects was not extracted from studies as the focus of the review was on efficacy.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.