Pentoxifylline
Encyclopedia
Pentoxifylline is a drug commonly sold by Aventis
under the brand name Trental. Its chemical name is 1-(5-oxohexyl)-3, 7-dimethylxanthine. Pentoxifylline is a xanthine
derivative. Other brand names include Pentox, Pentoxil, and Flexital.
resulting from obstructed arteries
in the limbs, and vascular dementia
.
Pentoxifylline improves blood flow through peripheral blood vessels and therefore helps with blood circulation in the arms and legs (e.g. intermittent claudication), and the brain (hence its use in vascular dementia).
The drug is gaining acceptance for conservative treatment of Peyronie's disease
and neuropathic injuries. It also helps prevent strokes and can be used in managing sickle cell disease.
Pentoxifylline has also been used to treat nausea and headaches in the mountains (altitude sickness
), and has been shown to reduce mortality in acute alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
, presumably through its ability to inhibit TNF-alpha
. Pentoxifylline's anti-TNF properties indicates it for treatment of alcoholic liver disease
.
A study demonstrated the possible use of pentoxifylline administered in conjunction with vitamin E for reducing the extent of fibrotic lesions induced by radiation therapy for breast cancer.
IV or oral pretreatment with pentoxifylline has been attempted for the treatment of cytokine release syndrome
but it does not prevent symptoms in most studies.
Pentoxifillyine is also being investigated for the causative treatment of endometriosis
.
, pentoxifylline is both a
In addition, pentoxifylline improves red blood cell deformability, reduces blood viscosity and decreases the potential for platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.
may cause death by acute pulmonary edema
in rats.
This drug is passed into the breast milk
. Animal studies have shown no evidence of teratogenicity at high doses.
Aventis
Aventis was a pharmaceutical and lab assay testing company. It was formed in 1999 when Rhône-Poulenc S.A. merged with Hoechst AG. The merged company was based in Strasbourg, France. With its headquarters in Strasbourg, Aventis was the product of the first transnational merger to combine large...
under the brand name Trental. Its chemical name is 1-(5-oxohexyl)-3, 7-dimethylxanthine. Pentoxifylline is a xanthine
Xanthine
Xanthine , is a purine base found in most human body tissues and fluids and in other organisms. A number of stimulants are derived from xanthine, including caffeine and theobromine....
derivative. Other brand names include Pentox, Pentoxil, and Flexital.
Uses
It is used to treat intermittent claudicationIntermittent claudication
Intermittent claudication is a clinical diagnosis given for muscle pain , classically in the calf muscle, which occurs during exercise, such as walking, and is relieved by a short period of rest.Claudication derives from the Latin verb claudicare, "to limp".-Signs:One of the hallmarks of arterial...
resulting from obstructed arteries
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
in the limbs, and vascular dementia
Multi-infarct dementia
Multi-infarct dementia is one type of vascular dementia. Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease in older adults. Multi-infarct dementia is thought to be an irreversible form of dementia, and its onset is caused by a number of small strokes or...
.
Pentoxifylline improves blood flow through peripheral blood vessels and therefore helps with blood circulation in the arms and legs (e.g. intermittent claudication), and the brain (hence its use in vascular dementia).
The drug is gaining acceptance for conservative treatment of Peyronie's disease
Peyronie's disease
Peyronie's Disease Peyronie's Disease Peyronie's Disease (also known as "Induratio penis plastica", or more recently Chronic Inflammation of the Tunica Albuginea (CITA), is a connective tissue disorder involving the growth of fibrous plaques in the soft tissue of the penis affecting up to 10% of men...
and neuropathic injuries. It also helps prevent strokes and can be used in managing sickle cell disease.
Pentoxifylline has also been used to treat nausea and headaches in the mountains (altitude sickness
Altitude sickness
Altitude sickness—also known as acute mountain sickness , altitude illness, hypobaropathy, or soroche—is a pathological effect of high altitude on humans, caused by acute exposure to low partial pressure of oxygen at high altitude...
), and has been shown to reduce mortality in acute alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Steatohepatitis
Steatohepatitis is a type of liver disease, characterized by inflammation of the liver with concurrent fat accumulation in liver...
, presumably through its ability to inhibit TNF-alpha
TNF inhibitor
Tumor necrosis factor promotes the inflammatory response, which in turn causes many of the clinical problems associated with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and refractory asthma. These disorders are...
. Pentoxifylline's anti-TNF properties indicates it for treatment of alcoholic liver disease
Alcoholic liver disease
Alcoholic liver disease is a term that encompasses the hepatic manifestations of alcohol overconsumption, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and chronic hepatitis with hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis. It is the major cause of liver disease in Western countries...
.
A study demonstrated the possible use of pentoxifylline administered in conjunction with vitamin E for reducing the extent of fibrotic lesions induced by radiation therapy for breast cancer.
IV or oral pretreatment with pentoxifylline has been attempted for the treatment of cytokine release syndrome
Cytokine release syndrome
Cytokine release syndrome is a common immediate complication occurring with the use of anti-T cell antibody infusions such as ATG, OKT3 and TGN1412. Severe cases are known as cytokine storms....
but it does not prevent symptoms in most studies.
Pentoxifillyine is also being investigated for the causative treatment of endometriosis
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...
.
Mechanism
Like other methylated xanthine derivativesXanthine
Xanthine , is a purine base found in most human body tissues and fluids and in other organisms. A number of stimulants are derived from xanthine, including caffeine and theobromine....
, pentoxifylline is both a
- competitive nonselective phosphodiesterase inhibitorPhosphodiesterase inhibitorA phosphodiesterase inhibitor is a drug that blocks one or more of the five subtypes of the enzyme phosphodiesterase , therefore preventing the inactivation of the intracellular second messengers cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate by the respective PDE...
which raises intracellular cAMPCyclic adenosine monophosphateCyclic adenosine monophosphate is a second messenger important in many biological processes...
, activates PKACAMP-dependent protein kinaseIn cell biology, Protein kinase A refers to a family of enzymes whose activity is dependent on cellular levels of cyclic AMP . PKA is also known as cAMP-dependent protein kinase...
, inhibits TNF-alphaTNF inhibitorTumor necrosis factor promotes the inflammatory response, which in turn causes many of the clinical problems associated with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa and refractory asthma. These disorders are...
and leukotrieneLeukotrieneLeukotrienes are fatty signaling molecules. They were first found in leukocytes . One of their roles is to trigger contractions in the smooth muscles lining the trachea; their overproduction is a major cause of inflammation in asthma and allergic rhinitis...
synthesis, and reduces inflammationAnti-inflammatoryAnti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducing inflammation as opposed to opioids, which affect the central nervous system....
and innate immunity and
In addition, pentoxifylline improves red blood cell deformability, reduces blood viscosity and decreases the potential for platelet aggregation and thrombus formation.
Drug interaction
Co-administration of pentoxifylline and sodium thiopentalSodium thiopental
Sodium thiopental, better known as Sodium Pentothal , thiopental, thiopentone sodium, or Trapanal , is a rapid-onset short-acting barbiturate general anaesthetic...
may cause death by acute pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema
Pulmonary edema , or oedema , is fluid accumulation in the air spaces and parenchyma of the lungs. It leads to impaired gas exchange and may cause respiratory failure...
in rats.
This drug is passed into the breast milk
Breast milk
Breast milk, more specifically human milk, is the milk produced by the breasts of a human female for her infant offspring...
. Animal studies have shown no evidence of teratogenicity at high doses.
Brand names
- Pentoxil (Upsher Smith)
- Pentoxin (RatiopharmRatiopharmRatiopharm is a German pharmaceutical company that is Europe's leading generics brand.Ratiopharm was owned by Adolf Merckle and makes generic Pharmaceuticals. They are based in Ulm, Germany and products being distributed in over 35 countries worldwide....
) - Artal (Leiras)
- Vasonit (Lannacher)
- Pentilin (Krka (company)Krka (company)Krka, d.d., Novo mesto is an international generic pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. It is one of the leading generic pharmaceutical companies in the world. In 2010, the Krka Group’s total sales were worth EUR 1,010.0 million. Over the past five years, average annual...
)