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New therapeutic options in the management of COPD – focus on roflumilast
Authors Antoniu S
Published 17 February 2011 Volume 2011:6 Pages 147—155
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S7336
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 2
Sabina Antonela Antoniu
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Pulmonary Disease Division, Pulmonary Disease University Hospital, Iasi, Romania
Abstract: In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) the inflammation occurring in the airways and in other lung tissues is complex and is orchestrated by various mediators including the isoenzyme 4 of the phosphodiesterases family (PDE4), which contributes to bronchoconstriction and inflammation. Various PDE4 inhibitors have been evaluated as potential therapies in asthma or COPD but among these only roflumilast have been authorized in Europe to be used in patients with severe COPD as an add-on to the bronchodilator therapy. This review discusses the existing preclinical and clinical data supporting the use of roflumilast for this therapeutic indication and tackles some of the pending issues related to PDE4 in general and to roflumilast in particular.
Keywords: COPD, roflumilast, PDE4, efficacy, safety
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