title: Effect of low-dose theophylline on airway inflammation in COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent studies have shown that theophylline may exert anti-inflammatory effects on neutrophils. We undertook to assess the effect of theophylline on airway inflammation in COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a 4-week randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 11 theophylline-naive patients with mild to moderate COPD. After a 1-week run-in period, six subjects were administered 400 mg/day theophylline (Theodur; Nikken Chemicals Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) for 4 weeks, while five subjects were administered a placebo. Induced sputum was obtained before and after the run-in period and then after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. Cell differential count and levels of interleukin-8, matrix metalloproteinase-9, neutrophil elastase (NE), myeloperoxidase (MPO), alpha1-antitrypsin (alpha1-AT), leukotriene B4 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No variable was significantly different during the run-in period or with placebo treatment. In contrast, theophylline treatment significantly decreased NE and MPO levels at 4 weeks, although the cell differential count did not change appreciably as a result of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that 4 weeks of theophylline treatment attenuates neutrophil-associated inflammation in the airways of mild to moderate COPD patients. However, the clinical benefits remain to be determined.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nasuhara
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Betsuyaku
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanino
authors.forename: Mishie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanino
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takamura
authors.forename: Katsura
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hosokawa
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishimura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D013806:Theophylline; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase