[Comparative study of the effect of a single oral dose of theophylline and etamiphyllin in children with asthma].

Twenty-seven asymptomatic asthmatic children with airway obstruction received a single oral dose of one out of three solutions, in a double-blind, randomized fashion, containing: etamiphylline, 6.9 mg/kg; theophylline, 6.9 mg/kg, and placebo. There were no differences in basal pulmonary function testing among the three groups. It was observed a greater rise of FEV1, one hour after theophylline compared with etamiphylline and placebo; and of FEV1 PEF and MMEF two and four hours after theophylline compared with etamiphylline and placebo. No significant differences were observed between etamiphylline and placebo. Four hours after the start of the study a 4 mg dose of nebulized salbutamol caused a greater rise of FEV1 PEF and MMEF in those children who had previously received etamiphylline and placebo compared with theophylline. Etamiphylline seems to be a rather weaker bronchodilator than theophylline when administered orally. Theophylline remains the only xanthine useful for the treatment of asthma for the time being.