Effect of pentoxifylline on hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury.
BACKGROUND
Although pentoxifylline has been shown to improve tissue oxygenation and restore hepatocellular function after hemorrhagic shock, its effect on hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury has not been fully clarified. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pentoxifylline exerted beneficial effects on liver histopathologic changes and enzymatic release caused by ischemia and reperfusion.


METHODS
Warm, reversible hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in four groups of pigs. Preoperative oral (24 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) or intraoperative intravenous (50 mg/kg) pentoxifylline was administered. Control animals received intravenous normal saline solution.


RESULTS
Untreated control animals exhibited significant liver damage expressed by hepatic histopathologic changes and high plasma levels of aminotransferases. Decreased animal survival was seen in the untreated group. All treated animals survived. Pentoxifylline given orally did not improve histopathologic changes or enzyme release. Intravenous administration caused significant amelioration of liver tissue damage, marked reduction of aspartate aminotransferase levels, and mild attenuation of alanine aminotransferase levels, as compared with control.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that intraoperative, intravenous pentoxifylline reduces hepatic injury after warm ischemia and reperfusion.
Fabia
R
R
Transplant Services, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA.
Travis
D L
DL
Levy
M F
MF
Husberg
B S
BS
Goldstein
R M
RM
Klintmalm
G B
GB
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007511:Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008102:Liver Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013552:Swine; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline