Combined intravenous and oral pentoxifylline in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. A clinical trial.

Sixteen patients with severe occlusive vascular disease of the lower extremities were randomised to receive a five day course of combined intravenous and oral Pentoxifylline followed by three months oral treatment only, or identical treatment with a matching placebo. Nine patients received active Pentoxifylline, and 7 placebo, Follow-up by regular clinical examination and haemoreological assessment revealed a marked improvement in claudication distance and an increase in red cell deformability in those receiving Pentoxifylline, there being no change in those receiving placebo. Although both of the above parameters were improved by the treatment, there did not appear to be a direct correlation between red cell deformability and claudication distance in individual patients. A combination of intravenous and oral Pentoxifylline therapy results in an increase in both claudication distance and red cell deformability, but the former may not te a direct consequence of the latter.