title: Theophylline: a diagnostic aid for evaluating chronic airways obstruction.
abstract: A study was carried out on the use of theophylline (240 mg by infusion) as a functional diagnostic test in patients showing severe chronic airways obstruction. The preliminary results suggested that the pharmacologic action of theophylline (a bronchodilating and vasoactive drug) helps discriminate the different types of anatomo-functional impairments present during a severe chronic bronchial obstruction. The changes in VA and VA/Qc induced by the drug were evaluated. The presence of a lesion mainly affecting the airways or the parenchyma of the lung might be identified by these changes.
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000503:physiopathology; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D013806:Theophylline
chemical_list: D013806:Theophylline