Effects of pentoxifylline (Trental) on blood flow, viscosity, and oxygen transport in young adults with inoperable cyanotic congenital heart disease.
Four polycythemic young adults with inoperable cyanotic congenital heart disease were treated for 12 weeks with 20 mg/kg/day of pentoxifylline in an attempt to increase pulmonary blood flow by improving red blood cell demorability and decreasing whole blood viscosity. Treatment caused a rise in mean arterial oxygen saturation from 75-82%, a fall in the mean oxygen extraction coefficient from 47-40%, and a fall in mean oxygen consumption from 186-169 ml/min/m2. Pentoxifylline decreased whole blood, but not plasma, viscosity at all hematocrits over a range of shear rates. Two patients had significant bleeding episodes during treatment.
Berman
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Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131.
Berman
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N
Pathak
D
D
Wood
S C
SC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D003326:Coronary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D003490:Cyanosis; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
D010431:Pentoxifylline