Use of xanthine derivatives for the inhibition of dephosphorylation of cofilin

A method for inhibiting the dephosphorylation of the protein cofilin comprising administering to a patient in need thereof

• 1) a therapeutically effective amount of a xanthine derivative of the formula I ##STR8## and/or an optionally stereoisomeric form of the compound of the formula I and/or a physiologically tolerable salt of the compound of the formula I,
• wherein
• R.sup.2 is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl,
• one of the radicals R.sup.1 or R.sup.3 is a radical of the formula II
• --(CH.sub.2).sub.n)--R--CH.sub.3 (II)
• in which R
• a) is a covalent single bond and in which n is the integer zero, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7,
• b) is a radical --CO-- and in which n is the integer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, or
• c) is a radical --C(R.sup.4)(OH)-- and in which n is the integer 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 and
• R.sup.4 is
• a) a hydrogen atom or
• b) (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)-alkyl, and
• the other radical R.sup.3 or R.sup.1 is
• a) a hydrogen atom,
• b) (C.sub.1 -C.sub.7)-alkyl,
• c) (C.sub.4 -C.sub.8)-cycloalkylalkyl or
• d) alkyl having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, in which the carbon chain is interrupted by an oxygen atom;
• in conjunctive therapy with
• 2) a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formula IV and/or V, ##STR9## and/or an optionally stereoisomeric form of the compound of the formula IV or V and/or a physiologically tolerable salt of the compound of the formula IV or V, wherein
• R.sup.5 is
• a) (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl,
• b) (C.sub.3 -C.sub.5)-cycloalkyl,
• c) (C.sub.2 -C.sub.6)-alkenyl or
• d) (C.sub.2 -C.sub.6)-alkynyl,
• R.sup.6 is
• a) --CF.sub.3,
• b) --O--CF.sub.3,
• c) --S--CF.sub.3,
• d) --OH,
• e) --NO.sub.2,
• f) halogen,
• g) benzyl,
• h) phenyl,
• i) --O-phenyl,
• k) --CN or
• l) --O-phenyl, mono- or polysubstituted by
• 1) (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl,
• 2) halogen,
• 3) --O--CF.sub.3 or
• 4) --O--CH.sub.3,
• R.sup.7 is
• a) (C.sub.1 -C.sub.4)-alkyl,
• b) halogen, or
• c) a hydrogen atom, and
• X is
• a) a --CH group or
• b) a nitrogen atom.