The value of maintenance theophylline in steroid-dependent asthma.
We examined the value of maintenance theophylline at serum concentrations of 10 to 20 micrograms per milliliter in a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial of 33 children with steroid-dependent chronic asthma. Patients were free of all symptoms 63 +/- 6 per cent of the days (mean +/- S.E.M.) when taking theophylline as compared with 42 +/- 6 per cent when taking placebo (P < 0.01). Inhaled metaproterenol was required twice as often with placebo (P < 0.01), and additional daily corticosteroids were needed more than three times as often with placebo (P = 0.02). Daily peak flow measurements improved with theophylline (P < 0.01) as did monthly spirometric measurements and residual volume measured by plethysmography. Theophylline was associated with a 50 per cent increase in the number of patients able to complete an exercise test (P = 0.01) and with a smaller decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second among patients completing the exercise (P < 0.02). We conclude that maintenance bronchodilator therapy with theophylline can provide clinically important benefit for patients with chronic steroid-dependent asthma.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D006801:Humans; D009921:Metaproterenol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D005082:Physical Exertion; D010919:Placebos; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D013147:Spirometry; D013806:Theophylline / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010919:Placebos; D009921:Metaproterenol; D013806:Theophylline; D001507:Beclomethasone; D011241:Prednisone