Treatment of vascular retinal disease with pentoxifylline: a controlled, randomized trial.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PXF (1800 mg daily) in patients with sudden loss of vision (SLV) in a 4-week trial, evaluating clinical outcome and retinal flow parameters. Inclusion criteria were SLV associated with thrombosis of the retinal artery; decrease in retinal blood flow (PSF: peak-systolic flow; EDF: end-diastolic flow velocity) and asymmetry between the two retinal arteries (>40%) documented by duplex scanning. All 10 included patients completed the study. The groups were comparable. No side effects were reported. A significant improvement in flow velocity (p<0.05) and a decrease in analogue score in both groups were observed. PSF increase was 550% in the PXF group vs 288% in the placebo group (262% difference). EDF increase was 400% in the PXF group vs 200% in the placebo group (200% difference). There was a significant difference in the analogue score decrease (33.3% difference larger in the PXF group; p<0.05). In conclusion, PXF treatment improved retinal flow after retinal artery occlusion better than placebo and should be considered as an important option in this condition.
Incandela
L
L
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chieti University and San Valentino Vascular Screening Project, Pe, Italy.
Cesarone
M R
MR
Belcaro
G
G
Steigerwalt
R
R
De Sanctis
M T
MT
Nicolaides
A N
AN
Griffin
M
M
Geroulakos
G
G
Ramaswami
G
G
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; 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; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline