Lipoprotein profile of children with asthma receiving long-term theophylline therapy: a preliminary study.

Lipid profiles were determined in three groups of children: children with asthma receiving long-term therapy with slow-releasing theophylline, children with asthma not treated with theophylline, and a control group of children without asthma. Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein A levels and the high-density lipoprotein/low-density lipoprotein ratio were significantly higher among theophylline-treated children. The observed changes do not seem to increase the risks of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.