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J. CORTIJO ANAL. REAL ACAD. FARM.

SUMMARY

Phosphodiesterase inhibitors: antiasthmatic drugs of the future

The identification of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE), the enzyme
responsible for the intracellular degradation of cAMP and cGMP, as the target for
methyxanthines has given rise to a reserch effort resulting in the characterization of
multiple PDE isoenzymes (PDE 1 to PDE 9), their specific tissular distribution and
development of selective inhibitors for some of these isoenzymes.

This bioavailability of theese selective PDE isoenzyme inhibitors has permitted
studies with regard to their potential value as antiasthmatic drugs. Although the basic
research is being intensive, most of the selective PDE isoenzyme inhibitors are
beginning to be subjected to clinical trials to asses their usefulness in the treatment of
this pathology. Future research should be aimed at ascertaining the tissular distribution
of the PDEs and their role in physiophathology, as well as at developing supraselective
phosphodiesterase inhibitors.

Key words : Asthma.- Phosphodiesterase isoenzymes.- Arways smooth muscle.-
Inflamatory cells.

INTRODUCCIÓN

El asma bronquial es una enfermedad crónica que afecta a todos
los grupos de edad constituyendo un importante problema socio-sanitario
en los países industrializados, calculándose que alrededor del 6% de la
población adulta y el 10% de la pediátrica padece esta patología. En
nuestro país la prevalencia de asma se sitúa muy próxima al millón de
pacientes siendo posible que exista una cifra similar no diagnosticada y en
1989 presentamos una tasa bruta de mortalidad de 2.8 / 100.000
habitantes (Baos, 1994). Es preocupante la existencia de datos que
indican el desarrollo de un incremento en la incidencia, morbilidad y
mortalidad por asma, a pesar del elevado consumo de medicación
antiasmática.

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