title: The effect of pentoxifylline on haemolysis in patients with double cardiac prosthetic valves.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intravascular haemolysis frequently occurs in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses. In this prospective study, we investigated whether pentoxifylline (PTX) has an effect on haemolysis following prosthetic valvular replacement in 40 patients who underwent double valve (mitral and aortic) replacement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients were randomly assigned to two groups as control (n = 20) and PTX group (n = 20). PTX was given in a daily oral dose of 1200 mg (3 times 400 mg) for 120 days. Laboratory tests for evidence of haemolysis namely, haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), plasma total bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and haptoglobin levels, corrected reticulocyte percent and serum lactic dehydrogenase activity (SLDH) were performed before and after the PTX treatment. PTX treatment caused significant increases in Hb, Htc, and haptoglobin levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Additionally, there were significant decreases in SLDH, total and indirect bilirubin levels, and corrected reticulocyte percent in patients receiving PTX as compared with their respective control values (P < 0.01, for all). PTX treatment caused a significant improvement, to different extents, in signs of haemolysis in 60% of the patients. On the other hand, the response rate was 5% in the placebo-treated control group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that PTX may be an effective agent in the management of haemolysis in patients with prosthetic heart valves.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Akdeniz University, Medical Faculty, 07070 Antalya, Turkey. golbasi@med.akdeniz.edu.tr
authors: Ilhan
authors: I
authors: Golbasi
authors: Cengiz
authors: C
authors: Turkay
authors: Aysen
authors: A
authors: Timuragaoglu
authors: Sadi S
authors: SS
authors: Ozdem
authors: Aytul
authors: A
authors: Belgi
authors: Halide
authors: H
authors: Akbas
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Bayezid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006401:Hematologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006401:Hematologic Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline