Pentoxifylline does not delay bacterially induced preterm delivery in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine whether pentoxifylline, a potent cytokine inhibitor, would delay bacterially induced preterm delivery in rabbits.


METHODS
The study was a randomized, blinded, prospective trial. Twenty-seven rabbits underwent laparotomy. Of these, five (shams) received an intrauterine injection of endotoxin-free water, and the remaining 22 received an injection of 10(5) Escherichia coli into the lower uterine segment. Postoperatively the animals that received the Escherichia coli were divided into two groups. The placebo group (n = 11) received subcutaneous injections of saline solution three times a day and the treatment group (n = 11) received pentoxifylline 20 mg/kg/day in three divided doses. The following parameters were evaluated: (1) time until delivery, (2) time until death, and (3) intrauterine pathologic features.


RESULTS
All five of the sham rabbits were delivered at term without any evidence of infection. There were no differences in the preterm delivery rates between the placebo group (eight of 11) and the pentoxifylline-treated group (seven to 11). However, there was a trend toward prolonging time until death in the treatment group. There were no differences in intrauterine pathologic feature between the placebo and treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Pentoxifylline does not delay Escherichia coli induced preterm delivery in rabbits.
Walton
D L
DL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Miami School of Medicine, USA.
Willis
D
D
Martinez
O
O
Fojaco
R
R
Chin
V P
VP
O'Sullivan
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections; D005260:Female; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010431:Pentoxifylline