A narrative review of theophylline: is there still a place for
an old friend?

J 2024

A narrative review of theophylline: is there still a place for an old friend?

ŠČUREK, Martin and Kristián BRAT

Basic information

Original name

A narrative review of theophylline: is there still a place for an old friend?

Authors

ŠČUREK, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Kristián BRAT (703 Slovakia, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Journal of Thoracic Disease, HONG KONG, AME Publishing Company, 2024, 2072-1439

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30203 Respiratory systems

Country of publisher

Hong Kong

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.500 in 2022

Organization unit

Faculty of Medicine

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-23-1781

UT WoS

001262759800022

Keywords in English

aminophylline; bronchial asthma (BA); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); methylxanthines; Theophylline

Abstract

V originále

Background and Objective: Theophylline has been used for decades in human medicine for its psychostimulant, anti-inflammatory, and bronchodilator effects. Historically, in pulmonary medicine, theophylline has been used in the treatment of obstructive pulmonary diseases such as bronchial asthma (BA) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review aims to determine whether theophylline still has its place in the therapy of obstructive pulmonary diseases or whether we can even extend its use to other diagnoses such as atropine-resistant cardiac arrests, apnea of prematurity, or others. Moreover, we also aim to determine if there is a rationale for using low-dose theophylline due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect, or if the future of methylxanthines lies in newly synthesized derivates of theophylline such as bamifylline, or doxofylline. Methods: The narrative review is based on a literature search of the articles indexed in the PubMed database in 2023. We searched the database since the year 2009 using the MeSH terms “theophylline”, “aminophylline”, and “methylxanthines” and we included original articles in the English language. Key Content and Findings: Theophylline has a number of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), the most serious of which is its effect on the cardiovascular system. It can cause severe arrhythmias or even cardiac arrest when overdosed. On the other hand, there is still a substantial amount of its applications in current clinical practice. Conclusions: There is considerable controversy associated with its use in current medicine, which can be attributed both to its narrow therapeutic range and its mentioned cardiotoxic effect. Herein, we summarize the current state-of-art of theophylline and its use in human medicine.

Links

NU20-06-00156, research and development project

Name: Vliv pneumologické medikace na funkce lidských kardiomyocytů.

Investor: Ministry of Health of the CR, Subprogram 1 - standard

Citovat

ŠČUREK, Martin and Kristián BRAT. A narrative review of theophylline: is there still a place for an old friend? Journal of Thoracic Disease. HONG KONG: AME Publishing Company, 2024, vol. 16, No 5, p. 3450-3460. ISSN 2072-1439. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-23-1781.

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   author = {Ščurek, Martin and Brat, Kristián},
   article_location = {HONG KONG},
   article_number = {5},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-23-1781},
   keywords = {aminophylline; bronchial asthma (BA); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); methylxanthines; Theophylline},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2072-1439},
   journal = {Journal of Thoracic Disease},
   title = {A narrative review of theophylline: is there still a place for an old friend?},
   url = {https://jtd.amegroups.org/article/view/86693/html},
   volume = {16},
   year = {2024}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2409978
AU  - Ščurek, Martin - Brat, Kristián
PY  - 2024
TI  - A narrative review of theophylline: is there still a place for an old friend?
JF  - Journal of Thoracic Disease
VL  - 16
IS  - 5
SP  - 3450-3460
EP  - 3450-3460
PB  - AME Publishing Company
SN  - 20721439
KW  - aminophylline
KW  - bronchial asthma (BA)
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KW  - methylxanthines
KW  - Theophylline
UR  - https://jtd.amegroups.org/article/view/86693/html
N2  - Background and Objective: Theophylline has been used for decades in human medicine for its psychostimulant, anti-inflammatory, and bronchodilator effects. Historically, in pulmonary medicine, theophylline has been used in the treatment of obstructive pulmonary diseases such as bronchial asthma (BA) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This review aims to determine whether theophylline still has its place in the therapy of obstructive pulmonary diseases or whether we can even extend its use to other diagnoses such as atropine-resistant cardiac arrests, apnea of prematurity, or others. Moreover, we also aim to determine if there is a rationale for using low-dose theophylline due to its immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect, or if the future of methylxanthines lies in newly synthesized derivates of theophylline such as bamifylline, or doxofylline. Methods: The narrative review is based on a literature search of the articles indexed in the PubMed database in 2023. We searched the database since the year 2009 using the MeSH terms “theophylline”, “aminophylline”, and “methylxanthines” and we included original articles in the English language. Key Content and Findings: Theophylline has a number of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), the most serious of which is its effect on the cardiovascular system. It can cause severe arrhythmias or even cardiac arrest when overdosed. On the other hand, there is still a substantial amount of its applications in current clinical practice. Conclusions: There is considerable controversy associated with its use in current medicine, which can be attributed both to its narrow therapeutic range and its mentioned cardiotoxic effect. Herein, we summarize the current state-of-art of theophylline and its use in human medicine.
ER  -

ŠČUREK, Martin and Kristián BRAT. A narrative review of theophylline: is there still a place for an old friend? \textit{Journal of Thoracic Disease}. HONG KONG: AME Publishing Company, 2024, vol.~16, No~5, p.~3450-3460. ISSN~2072-1439. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.21037/jtd-23-1781.

Detailed Information on Publication Record