title: Pentoxifylline decreases serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein in hemodialysis patients: results of a randomized double-blind, controlled clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effect of pentoxifylline versus placebo on serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) of hemodialysis (HD) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a randomized double-blind, controlled clinical trial. HD patients without infection or drugs with anti-inflammatory effect were randomly allocated to a study (n = 18, pentoxifylline 400 mg/day) or control (n = 18, placebo) group; all patients had arteriovenous fistula. Besides clinical and laboratory monthly assessments, serum TNF-α and IL-6 (ELISA) and CRP (nephelometry) were measured at 0, 2 and 4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the inflammation markers significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the pentoxifylline group: TNF-α [baseline 0.4 (0-2) versus final 0 (0-0) pg/mL], IL-6 [baseline 9.4 (5-14) versus final 2.9 (2-5) pg/mL] and CRP [baseline 7.1 (3-20) versus final 2.6 (1-8) mg/L], whereas no significant changes were observed in the placebo group: TNF-α [baseline 0 (0-0) versus final 1.2 (0-4) pg/mL], IL-6 [baseline 8.0 (5-11) versus final 8.7 (4-11) pg/mL] and CRP [baseline 4.5 (2-9) versus final 3.8 (3-23) mg/L].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pentoxifylline significantly decreased serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP compared to placebo. Pentoxifylline could be a promising and useful strategy to reduce the systemic inflammation frequently observed in patients on HD.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Renales, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Guadalajara, México.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: González-Espinoza
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rojas-Campos
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Medina-Pérez
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peña-Quintero
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gómez-Navarro
authors.forename: Alfonso M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Cueto-Manzano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D010431:Pentoxifylline