Initial therapy for hospitalized asthmatic patients most often includes intravenous aminophylline, intravenous corticosteroids, inhaled and oral beta agonist therapy, and supplemental oxygen. Pulmonary function status is monitored by repeated measurements of peak expiratory flow rate. Though the initial therapy may be identical, patients hospitalized for treatment of acute asthma respond to therapy at different rates. Patients with a rapid response achieve their maximum pulmonary function values within three days, whereas those with a slow response …