title: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pentoxifylline for the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate pentoxifylline for the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 60-day, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 60-day no treatment follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  An oral medicine specialist referral center in Manchester.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine volunteers who passed the initial assessment for recurrent aphthous stomatitis entered a pretrial phase in which their eligibility for the trial phase of the study was assessed. Sixteen subjects were deemed ineligible, and 7 failed to attend or withdrew. The remaining 26 subjects were randomized to placebo or treatment. Six subjects withdrew because of adverse effects, and 1 was unavailable for follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pentoxifylline (also called oxpentifylline), 400 mg 3 times daily, or matching placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A reduction in the median pain score, ulcer size, number of ulcers, or total number of ulcer episodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients taking pentoxifylline had less pain and reported smaller and fewer ulcers compared with baseline. Patients taking placebo reported no improvement in these variables. Patients taking pentoxifylline also reported more ulcer-free days than those taking placebo. However, the differences were small and, with the exception of median ulcer size (P = .05), did not reach statistical significance. Adverse effects were common with pentoxifylline, but not significantly different from those experienced by patients taking placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although pentoxifylline may have some benefit in the treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis, the benefit is limited. It may have a role in the treatment of patients unresponsive to other treatments, but cannot yet be recommended as a first-line treatment.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Surgery, The University of Sheffield School of Clinical Dentistry, Sheffield, England. M.Thornhill@Sheffield.ac.uk
authors: Martin H
authors: MH
authors: Thornhill
authors: Lorena
authors: L
authors: Baccaglini
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Theaker
authors: Michael N
authors: MN
authors: Pemberton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D010431:Pentoxifylline