Potential Neuropsychological Side Effects of Theophylline in Asthmatic Children

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Abstract
Fifteen asthmatic children were administered a partial Halstead Neuropsychological Test Battery for Children, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Revised (WISC-R), and the Revised Visual Retention Test in a crossover, repeated measures design. One group of subjects (n = 8) was administered initial tests while on theophylline, and later retested while taking no medication. The other group of subjects (n = 7) received their first test administration while taking no medication, and were later retested while taking theophylline. Results indicated that significant differences existed (p⩽ .01) between each child's test scores when they were taking theophylline compared to no medication, with significantly lower scores obtained on the similarities, vocabulary, comprehension, Verbal Intelligence Quotient (VIQ) and Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) portions of the WISC-R. Additional significant decrements in performance were also observed on the Revised Visual Retention Test (p ⩽ .001). The significance of this work relates to the potential reversible impairment in intellectual functioning associated with drug effects.
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