title: Randomised, double blind placebo controlled trial of pentoxifylline in the treatment of venous leg ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether pentoxifylline 400 mg (Trental 400) taken orally three times daily, in addition to ambulatory compression bandages and dressings, improves the healing rate of pure venous ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised, double blind placebo controlled trial, parallel group study of factorial design, permitting the simultaneous evaluation of alternative pharmaceutical, bandaging, and dressings materials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leg ulcer clinics of a teaching and a district general hospital in southern Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  200 patients with confirmed venous ulcers and in whom other major causal factors were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pentoxifylline 400 mg three times daily or placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complete healing (full epithelialisation) of all ulcers on the trial leg.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete healing occurred in 65 of the 101 (64%) patients receiving pentoxifylline and 52 of the 99 (53%) patients receiving placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difference in the healing rates between patients taking pentoxifylline and those taking placebo did not reach statistical significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh EH3 9YW, UK.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Ruckley
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Prescott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006401:Hematologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D006401:Hematologic Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline