Theophylline reduces pulmonary eosinophilia after various types of active anaphylactic shock in guinea-pigs.

The action of theophylline was studied on the inflammatory reaction obtained in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 24 h after an active anaphylactic shock had been induced by ovalbumin inhalation in conscious sensitized guinea-pigs. The compound was administered twice by intraperitoneal administration after the anaphylactic reaction at a dose of 50 mg kg-1. When the guinea-pigs were sensitized by intramuscular injection of 30 mg kg-1 ovalbumin or by ovalbumin aerosol, theophylline reduced the number of eosinophils and mononuclear cells in the fluid. When animals were sensitized by intramuscular injection of 30 mg kg-1 ovalbumin mixed with Freund's complete adjuvant, treatment with the xanthine derivative decreased only the number of eosinophils. In the three models theophylline did not modify significantly the number of neutrophils. Thus theophylline always reduced pulmonary eosinophilia irrespective of the mode of sensitization used to induce anaphylactic shock.