Pentoxifylline increases extremity blood flow in diabetic atherosclerotic patients
R. W. Schwartz, N. M. Logan, P. J. Johnson, W. E. Strodel, J. G. Fine, A. Kazmers and G. L. Hyde
Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky, Chandler Medical Center, Lexington 40536-0084.
Pentoxifylline, a new trisubstituted methylxanthine derivative known for
its hemorrheologic action, has been shown to improve exercise tolerance in
atherosclerotic patients. We examined the responses of diabetic
atherosclerotic patients to pentoxifylline administration, measured by
Doppler waveform analysis and exercise tolerance. Standard exercise
tolerance and Doppler waveform analytic studies of the lower extremity,
specifically the right dorsalis pedis artery, were performed before and
after three months of pentoxifylline administration (400 mg three times a
day). The study group comprised ten subjects (six men and four women) with
a mean (+/- SD) age of 60 +/- 3.3 years. Data were analyzed using a paired
Student t test. All ten subjects showed a significant increase in exercise
tolerance after pentoxifylline treatment. Eight of ten subjects
demonstrated a significant increase in right dorsalis pedis arterial flow.
