CLINICAL TRIAL
COMPARATIVE STUDY
JOURNAL ARTICLE
RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL
RESEARCH SUPPORT, NON-U.S. GOV'T
Add like
Add dislike
Add to saved papers

Epinephrine absorption in children with a history of anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Prompt injection of epinephrine is the cornerstone of systemic anaphylaxis treatment. The rate of epinephrine absorption has not been reported previously in allergic children.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the clinical pharmacology of epinephrine in this population.

METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomized, blinded, parallel-group study in 17 children with a history of anaphylaxis to food, Hymenoptera venom, or other substances. We injected 0.01 ml/kg epinephrine solution (maximum 0.3 ml [0.3 mg]) subcutaneously, or 0.3 mg epinephrine intramuscularly from an autoinjector. Plasma epinephrine concentrations, heart rate, blood pressure, and adverse effects were monitored.

RESULTS: In nine children who received epinephrine subcutaneously, the mean maximum plasma epinephrine concentration (+/- SEM) was 1802 +/- 214 pg/ml, achieved at a mean time of 34 +/- 14 minutes (range, 5 to 120 minutes). Only two of the nine children achieved maximum plasma concentrations by 5 minutes. In eight children who received epinephrine intramuscularly, the mean maximum plasma concentration was 2136 +/- 351 pg/ml, achieved at a mean time of 8 +/- 2 minutes, which was significantly faster than the mean time at which maximum plasma concentrations were achieved after subcutaneous epinephrine injection (p < 0.05). Six of the eight children achieved maximum plasma concentrations by 5 minutes. The terminal elimination half-life was 43 +/- 15 minutes. No serious adverse effects were noted in any child.

CONCLUSIONS: In children, recommendations for subcutaneous epinephrine injection are based on anecdotal experience, and should be reevaluated in view of our finding of delayed epinephrine absorption when this route is used. This delay might have important clinical implications during an episode of systemic anaphylaxis. The intramuscular route of injection is preferable.

Full text links

We have located links that may give you full text access.
Can't access the paper?
Try logging in through your university/institutional subscription. For a smoother one-click institutional access experience, please use our mobile app.

Related Resources

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

Mobile app image

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app

All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.

By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.

Your Privacy Choices Toggle icon

You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now

Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university

For the best experience, use the Read mobile app