Klin Farmakol Farm. 2014;28(2):45-48

Pentoxifylline in treating symptomatic peripheral arterial disease

David Suchý¹, Milan Hromádka²

¹ Oddělení klinické farmakologie FN Plzeň

² Kardiologické oddělení FN a LF UK Plzeň, Komplexní kardiovaskulární centrum FN Plzeň

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an atherothrombotic syndrome in which there is a progressive narrowing of the arteries of the legs.

Intermittent claudication is a clinical sign of symptomatic PAD. The development of symptomatic PAD significantly affects the quality of

life and, in coincidence with other atherosclerotic manifestations, increases the mortality rate in this group of patients.

Our study evaluated the effect of the vasoactive substance pentoxifylline on the claudication interval in symptomatic patients with PAD.

Parenteral administration of pentoxifylline infusion therapy in a group of 50 patients with a worsening of claudication symptoms resulted

in a statistically significant prolongation of the claudication interval (p < 0.01) and an increased ankle-brachial index (p < 0.001). A positive

effect of intravenous pentoxifylline on the indices of the oxidative status and fibrinogen levels (p < 0.05) was seen after a 2-week wash-out

period. Similar results have been observed in patients with long-term oral treatment with pentoxifylline.

From the data obtained, we consider parenteral administration of pentoxifylline in patients with PAD and a worsening of claudication symptoms

to be a reasonable option, given the objectively confirmed effect on claudication pain and the increase in the ankle-brachial index.

Keywords: PAD, claudication, pentoxifylline, oxidative status

Published: July 1, 2014  Show citation