title: Treatment of retinal vein thrombosis with pentoxifylline: a controlled, randomized trial.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate PXF (pentoxifylline; 1600 mg daily vs placebo) in patients with retinal vein thrombosis (RVT) in a 4-week trial, evaluating clinical outcome and retinal flow. Inclusion criteria were sudden loss of vision (SLV); retinal vein thrombosis (RVT); decrease in retinal vein flow; asymmetry between retinal veins (>40%) documented by duplex scanning (retinal vein thrombosis flow = RVTF). All 18 included patients completed the study. The groups were comparable. No side effect was observed. An improvement in arterial flow (p<0.05) and a decrease in analogue score (p<0.05) were observed in both groups (due to the spontaneous evolution with partial thrombus lysis in 4 weeks). The increase in arterial flow (PSF and EDF) were greater (p<0.05) in the PXF group. The RVFV increase was better in the PXF group (350% increase vs 200% increase in the placebo group; p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the analogue score decrease (4 vs 7) in the PXF group (p<0.05). In conclusion, PXF improved retinal flow after RVT better than placebo. It should be considered as an important treatment option.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chieti University and San Valentino Vascular Screening Project, Pe, Italy.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cesarone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Belcaro
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Incandela
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Steigerwalt
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Nicolaides
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Geroulakos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline