The emerging anti-inflammato ry role of theophylline in the treatment of asthma

Abstract

Theophylline has been widely used as a bronchodilator in asthma for many years. More recently its role as first line asthma medication has declined as the toxic side-effects and difficulty maintaining therapeutic serum levels have been highlighted. At best, theophylline has been shown to be only a moderately effective bronchodilator. Of greater interest are theophyllines' recently recognised anti-inflammatory properties that have been noted at much lower therapeutic level than previously used. In this article the anti-inflammatory property of theophylline will be explored further.