Theophylline reduces the response to nasal challenge with antigen

Robert M. Naclerio, Denise Bartenfelder, David Proud, Alkis G. Togias, Deborah A. Meyers, Anne Kagey-Sobotka, Philip S. Norman, Lawrence M. Lichtenstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

A nasal challenge model of allergic rhinitis was used to determine if pretreatment with oral theophylline reduces histamine release in vivo. Ten subjects were entered into a double-blind, cross-over trial. The results showed that both the physiologic response (sneezing) (p = 0.02) and the amount of mediators (histamine, kinins, toluene sulfonyl arginine methyl ester esterase activity) (p <0.01 for all) released into nasal secretions were significantly reduced after one week of pretreatment with theophylline. At the time of challenge, the serum concentrations of theophylline were between 8 and 22 μg/ml. It is speculated that the ability of theophylline to block the clinical response to antigen challenge and to decrease the release of mast cell mediators contributes to its clinical efficacy in the treatment of asthma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)43-47
Number of pages5
JournalThe American journal of medicine
Volume79
Issue number6 SUPPL. 1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 20 1985

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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