Treatment of long-distance intermittent claudication with pentoxifylline: a 12-month, randomized trial.
The efficacy, safety, and cost of pentoxifylline (PXF) in long-range (>400 m interval) intermittent claudication was studied comparing PXF and placebo in a 12-month study. A standardized treadmill test was performed at inclusion and at 6 and 12 months. A training plan based on walking was associated with the control of risk factor levels. Of the 194 included patients, 135 completed the study: 75 in the PXF group and 60 in the placebo group. There were 59 dropouts (due to low compliance). The authors observed a 148% increase in total walking distance (TWD) at 6 months with PXF (vs 110% with placebo; p<0.05); at 12 months, the increase was 170% with PXF (vs 131% with placebo; p<0.02). There was a 38% difference at 6 months and 39% at 12 months in favor of PXF. Treatment was well tolerated. In conclusion, PXF improved walking distance significantly better than placebo.
De Sanctis
M T
MT
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chieti University and San Valentino Vascular Screening Project, Pe, Italy.
Cesarone
M R
MR
Belcaro
G
G
Nicolaides
A N
AN
Griffin
M
M
Incandela
L
L
Bucci
M
M
Geroulakos
G
G
Ramaswami
G
G
Vasdekis
S
S
Agus
G
G
Bavera
P
P
Ippolito
E
E
D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline