ArticleAnesthesia and pain medicine2023
Post-dural puncture headache prevention and treatment with aminophylline or theophylline: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article in Anesthesia and pain medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
What it found
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Caffeine and Headache: Exploring the Multifaceted Relationship.Brain and behavior · 2026Review
- Sphenopalatine ganglion block for postdural puncture headache: A review of current evidence.World journal of clinical cases · 2026Article
- Efficacy of nebulised dexmedetomidine versus aminophylline for treatment of postdural puncture headache in patients undergoing subarachnoid block posted for caesarean section: a double-blind, randomised controlled study.BMJ neurology open · 2026Article
- Zeroing in: achieving zero complications in lumbar puncture - a quality improvement initiative to reduce complications at the University Hospital of North Norway.BMJ open quality · 2025Article
- Subdural Hematoma Presenting with Tinnitus After Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Section: A Case Report.Cureus · 2025Article
- Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPost-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is one of the most common complications in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the therapeutic and prophylactic effects of aminophylline and theophylline on PDPH.
methodsRelevant studies were identified by searching the following electronic databases, without language restriction, until June 2020: Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Cochrane Library-CENTRAL, and CINAHL Complete. Random effects models were used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) and risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) to assess the therapeutic and prophylactic effects of aminophylline and theophylline on PDPH, respectively. The Cochrane tool was used for the quality assessment of the included studies. The certainty of the evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation method.
resultsOf the 1,349 initial records, 15 met our eligibility criteria (6 studies on therapeutic and 9 on prophylactic effects). A significant reduction in the pain score was observed following aminophylline/theophylline treatment (SMD = -1.67; 95% CI, -2.28 to -1.05; P < 0.001, I2 = 84.7%; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that the therapeutic effect was significantly higher when these agents were compared to placebo than when conventional therapies were used. The risk of PDPH after aminophylline administration was not significantly reduced (RR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.42 to 1.31; P = 0.290).
conclusionsTheophylline and aminophylline have therapeutic, but not prophylactic, effects on PDPH.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.