This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

A Double-Blind, Controlled Study

Michael R. Alexander, MSc; William L. Dull, MD; John E. Kasik, MD, PhD

JAMA. 1980;244(20):2286-2290.

Abstract
Theophylline is commonly prescribed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), although controlled studies do not exist to support this use. We administered theophylline and placebo orally to 40 ambulatory COPD patients in a double-blind, crossover manner. Pulmonary function tests were conducted before and after isoproterenol nebulization on the final day of each four-week study period. Theophylline therapy produced small, but significant, increases over placebo in mean values. However, only the forced expiratory volume in 1 s was "improved," according to published criteria. There were no significant differences in subjective effects between treatment periods. Six patients were identified as "responders"; responder status could be predicted on the basis of improvement in flow rates after isoproterenol nebulization. Theophylline therapy is not beneficial to most COPD patients, and potential responders should be given carefully monitored therapeutic trials rather than arbitrarily being given maintenance therapy.

(JAMA 244:2286-2290, 1980)

Author Affiliations
From the Departments of Pharmacy (Mr Alexander), and Medicine (Drs Dull and Kasik), Veterans Administration Medical Center and Colleges of Pharmacy (Mr Alexander), and Medicine (Drs Dull and Kasik), University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Pharmacy Department, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52240 (Mr Alexander).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Theophylline for Irreversible Chronic Airflow Limitation: A Randomized Study Comparing n of 1 Trials to Standard Practice
Mahon et al.
Chest 1999;115:38-48.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Use of Theophylline in 'Irreversible' Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Update
Hill
Arch Intern Med 1988;148:2579-2584.
ABSTRACT  

Acute Response to Bronchodilator: An Imperfect Guide for Bronchodilator Therapy in Chronic Airflow Limitation
Guyatt et al.
Arch Intern Med 1988;148:1949-1952.
ABSTRACT  

Theophylline in Stable Chronic Airflow Obstruction: A Reappraisal
Dull and Alexander
Arch Intern Med 1984;144:2399-2401.
ABSTRACT  

Oral Theophylline Intoxication: A Serious Error of Patient and Physician Understanding
Mountain and Neff
Arch Intern Med 1984;144:724-727.
ABSTRACT