Pentoxifylline (Trental)--a new drug for the treatment of peripheral chronic occlusive arterial disease.

Full Abstract

Pentoxifylline (Trental), a xanthine analog, was evaluated for tolerance, safety and efficacy in the treatment of chronic arterial disease in a pilot study. Evaluation was performed in 35 cases. Twenty patients (Fontaine stage II or stage III severity) were given pentoxifylline in a daily dose of 1200 mg (Trental 400 t.i.d.) and 15 patients were given placebo for a period of eight weeks, respectively. Pentoxifylline was significantly more effective than the placebo in increasing both the initial and absolute claudication distance (ICD and ACD) in patients with peripheral chronic occlusive arterial disease (COAD). The subjective parameters such as paresthesias, muscular cramps and sensation of heaviness in the legs paralled the course of walking parameters. These results support the hypothesis that pentoxifylline in doses of 400 mg (slow release tablets) t.i.d. enhances blood flow via reducing blood viscosity and improving red cell flexibility in patients with intermittent claudication due to COAD. Pentoxifylline is thus regarded as a promising drug for the treatment of circulatory ischemic disorders, especially in intermittent claudication. It was well tolerated with minimal untoward effects.

Author information

Author/s: Chopra, H K (HK); Chopra, K L (KL); Aggarwal, K K (KK); Parashar, S K (SK);

Affiliation: Mool Chand K.R. Hospital, Lajpat Nagar III, New Delhi, India.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Clinical Trial; Controlled Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Review

Journal: Journal of medicine (J Med), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1988-; vol 19 (issue 2) : pp 89-107

Dates: Created 1988/11/17; Completed 1988/11/17; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 3049876, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.