Acute action of aminophylline in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated whether aminophylline has an acute effect on the muscle performance of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study was a randomized, double-blind, crossover against placebo.

Materials and methods: Twenty-five patients (48.5 +/- 14.1 years) with ALS were evaluated by means of forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal mouth inspiratory and expiratory pressures (P(Imax)/P(Emax)) and endurance, maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV) and handgrip strength (HS); variables were measured before and after the patients received an intravenous infusion of aminophylline or placebo.

Results: MVV (P<0.02) and HS of the right and left hands (P=0.05) increased after aminophylline infusion. There was a positive correlation between FVC and P(Imax) (r=0.80; P<0.05); between MVV and P(Imax) post-aminophylline, respectively (r=0.77; P<0.05). Serum aminophylline levels ranged from 5.3 to 10.5 microg/mL (mean 7.30).

Conclusion: The acute administration of aminophylline improves the endurance of respiratory muscles and increases handgrip strength in patients with ALS.