THE EFFECTS OF THEOPHYLLINE ON METABOLIC-RATE IN CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG-DISEASE PATIENTS

Objective: To study the effect of theophylline and an alternative bron chodilator, ipratropium, on resting energy expenditure (REE) and therm ic effect of food (TEF). Design: 5-week randomized, repeated measures, double-blind, cross-over design, comparing the effects of theophyllin e and ipratropium drug treatments on metabolic measurements made durin g a baseline period. Setting: Ambulatory Clinical Trials Center at Uni versity of California, San Diego. Subjects: 14 patients at least 65 ye ars old with a clinical diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary dis ease. Measurements: Resting energy expenditure and thermic effect of f ood were measured by indirect calorimetry. Body composition was determ ined using bioimpedance. Results: Resting energy expenditure did not d iffer between baseline and either of the two drug treatments. In men, the thermic effect of food increased significantly during theophylline and ipratropium drug treatment periods (p < 0.03). Conclusions: Theop hylline or ipratropium does not appear to increase resting energy expe nditure in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease. The elevate d values for thermic effect of food in men need further study.