A meta-analysis on the efficacy of oral theophylline in patients with stable COPD.
BACKGROUND
Theophylline is a nonspecific inhibitor of phosphodiesterases that, despite exerting bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory effects, is a third-line therapy rarely used to treat chronic airflow limitation. We wished to evaluate the efficacy of oral theophylline as measured by improvements in trough (pre-dose) or peak (post-dose) FEV1 and FVC in patients with clinically stable COPD.


METHODS
Meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials reported as of June 2005 in which theophylline was orally administered to stable COPD patients and the functional evaluations included pre- and post-theophylline values for FEV1 and FVC.


RESULTS
Atotal of 18 trials were included in the meta-analysis. The weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for improvement over placebo in trough FEV1 and FVC were 0.108L (0.053-0.163) and 0.186L (0.036-0.336), respectively, while peak FEV1 and FVC improved by 0.096L (0.044-0.147) and 0.242L (0.11-0.374), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with oral theophylline improves both trough and peak FEV1 and FVC in clinically stable COPD patients. These results support previously reported benefits of theophylline in COPD.
Otsuka Maryland Research Institute, Rockville, MD, USA. nestorm@otsuka.com
Néstor A
NA
Molfino
Peter
P
Zhang
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D013806:Theophylline