Controlled therapeutic trials of pentoxifylline in relapsing-experimental auto-immune encephalomyelitis.
This study was designed to assess the capacity of several doses of pentoxifylline to prevent or treat chronic-relapsing-EAE (CR-EAE) exacerbations induced in the Lewis rat. Pentoxifylline (PTX) is a methylxanthine derivative that inhibits the production of TNF-alpha, a cytokine involved in EAE and multiple sclerosis physiopathology. Three blind placebo-controlled randomized studies were performed in respectively 40, 30 and 18 rats: a trial of different (PTX) dosages (8, 30, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) versus placebo to prevent EAE onset; a trial of PTX (8, 30 or 50 mg/kg) versus placebo to prevent 2 attacks of EAE and a trial of PTX (100 mg/kg) versus placebo to abrogate ongoing clinical EAE. No statistically significant difference was observed between groups in any trial. PTX was ineffective to prevent or treat CR-EAE in these studies.
Grassin
M
M
Experimental Neurobiology and Neuroimagery Laboratory, JE 480, BP 78, Université Bordeaux II, France.
Brochet
B
B
Coussemacq
M
M
Brochet
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004679:Encephalomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D012008:Recurrence; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline