low dose oral theophylline effects on hs-crp in stable copd patients

background: low dose theophylline may have some anti-inflammatory effects on copd patients. this study was conducted to determine the effect of oral low dose theophylline on serum crp level in patients with stable copd. methods: in this double blind randomized clinical trail study, 50 patients (25 in experimental and 25 in placebo group) were enrolled into the study by randomized blocking method. serum hs-crp using elisa method was measured before and after the study. data was analyzed using t-test and paired t-test. results: there was no significant difference in gender, age, smoking and spirometry variables before study between two groups. serum hs-crp level remained the same between two groups before and after the intervention. conclusion: more studies with large sample size needed to find anti-inflammatory effect of theophylline on macrophages and neutrophils and their derivative inflammatory materials in copd patients.