[Combination of theophylline and beta-adrenergic agonists in the treatment of asthma: efficacy and tolerance. Review of the literature].

Theophylline and beta 2-mimetic agents have long been used concomitantly in the treatment of asthma, but divergent opinions are lingering on concerning the safety and effectiveness of this combination in both chronic and acute asthma. In this article, the effectiveness and safety of the combined treatment are reviewed on the basis of published experimental studies and controlled clinical trials. Altogether, these publications demonstrate that the combination is more effective in chronic asthma than either of the two drugs taken separately, but the results obtained are more discordant in acute asthma. Concerning the cardiovascular system, some experimental and epidemiological data have probably led to overestimate the cardiotoxicity of the combined treatment. In clinical studies the incidence of severe arrhythmia is low and certainly not higher than with a single drug therapy in both chronic and acute asthma. Owing to its safety, the theophylline-beta 2-mimetic combination can be prescribed widely in order to improve the treatment of the different forms of asthma.