RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The control of airway inflammation is crucial for management of asthma. Theophylline has been demonstrated to have an anti-inflammatory effect as a long-term-medication for asthma in various studies. In the present study we attempted to clarify if aminophylline, a theophylline derivative, could act as an anti-inflammatory agent as well as a bronchodilator in the treatment for acute asthma exacerbations. METHODS: Patients are initially treated either with an intravenous infusion of aminophylline or with inhalation of salbutamol. Pro-inflammatory mediators such as eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), histamine, serotonin, thromboxane B2, leukotriene C4 were measured before and one hour after the initial treatment. Clinical parameters such as peak expiratory flow (PEF) and SpO2 were also checked during the studies. RESULTS: Significant improvements of PEF and SpO2 with both aminophylline and salbutamol treatment were seen. Furthermore, significant decreases of ECP, histamine, and serotonin were observed with aminophylline but not with salbutamol. CONCLUSIONS: Suppressing the release of pro-inflammatory mediators may play a role, at least in part, in the beneficial effects of aminophylline in the treatment of acute exacerbations in asthma. Additionally, this study indicated that treatment with aminophylline is at least as beneficial as nebulized salbutamol in the restoration of lung function.