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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
[Clinical efficacy of low-dose oral theophylline for treating mild asthma]
Shao-dan Huang1, Jun Yang, Shi-ye Zhang
1Department of Respiratory Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510260, China. shaodanhuang@sina.com
Objective:
To observe the role of theophylline in relieving airway symptoms and inflammation in patients with mild asthma.
Methods:
Fifty-six patients with mild asthma were randomly divided into treatment group (n=41) receiving oral theophylline at daily dose of 4 to 6 mg/kg for 16 weeks and control group (15 cases) without medication other than beta2 antagonist, which was administered when necessary in both groups. Peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets (CD3(+), CD4(+), and CD8(+)) and pulmonary function (PEF(am) and PD(20)) before and at 8 and 16 weeks during treatment were measured.
Results:
Significant difference was observed in CD3+ and CD4(+) T-lymphocyte subsets after medication with theophylline (P<0.05) in the patients, and PEF(am) and PD(20) were also significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05). Theophylline significantly improved the clinical symptom scores (P<0.05) and decreased the asthma attacks.
Conclusion:
Low-dose oral theophylline may significantly relieving airway inflammation in patients with mild asthma.
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