Pentoxifylline, a drug with rheological effects, decreases portal pressure in an experimental model of cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the influences of blood viscosity changes, mediated by a haemorheological agent, on splanchnic and systemic haemodynamic parameters in rats with cirrhosis due to chronic bile duct ligation.


METHODS
Blood viscosity was measured using a cone-plate viscometer and whole blood filterability was determined by a filtration method. Cardiac index and portal venous inflow were measured using radioactive microspheres. Measurements were performed 30 min after double-blind administration of placebo or pentoxifylline (25 mg/kg, intravenously).


RESULTS
As compared with placebo, pentoxifylline-treated cirrhotic rats had a lower portal pressure (13.8 +/- 1.4 vs. 12.1 +/- 1.6 mmHg, P < 0.05) and blood viscosity at shear rates of 115/s (6.6 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.8 +/- 0.3 mPas, P < 0.05), associated with an improvement of whole blood filterability (45.0 +/- 12.9 vs. 20.0 = 3.9 s/ml, P < 0.01). Similar values of mean arterial pressure, cardiac index and portal venous inflow were observed in both groups. A significant correlation was found between portal pressure and blood viscosity at a shear rate of 115/s (r = 0.71, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that portal pressure can be modified by pentoxifylline in an experimental model of cirrhosis. These haemodynamic changes are associated with a lower blood viscosity and whole blood filterability. Pentoxifylline may be a new approach in the treatment of portal hypertension.
Sánchez
S
S
Sección de Hígado, Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Albornoz
L
L
Bandi
J C
JC
Gerona
S
S
Mastai
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017082:Portal Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline