The effect of pentoxifylline on haemolysis in patients with double cardiac prosthetic valves.
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.
Golbasi
Ilhan
I
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Akdeniz University, Medical Faculty, 07070 Antalya, Turkey. golbasi@med.akdeniz.edu.tr
Turkay
Cengiz
C
Timuragaoglu
Aysen
A
Ozdem
Sadi S
SS
Belgi
Aytul
A
Akbas
Halide
H
Bayezid
Omer
O
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
D006401:Hematologic Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline