title: Pentoxifylline in hepatopulmonary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) on clinical manifestations and evaluate arterial blood gas data in hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a pilot study of 10 children with chronic liver disease, who had HPS, 20 mg/kg/d PTX was administered for 3 mo. Clinical data and arterial blood gas parameters were evaluated at baseline, the end of the treatment period, and 3 mo after drug discontinuation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients could tolerate PTX, while four patients experienced complications. Among patients who could tolerate PTX, there was a significant increase in arterial oxygen pressure (PaO(2)) (P = 0.02) and oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) (P = 0.04) and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (P = 0.02) after 3 mo of treatment. Significant decreases in PaO(2) (P = 0.02) and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (P = 0.02) were also seen after drug discontinuation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTX may improve PaO(2), SaO(2) and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient in the early stage of HPS.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Research Center, Ghaem Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. kianifarhr@mums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kianifar
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalesi
authors.forename: Eftekhar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mahmoodi
authors.forename: Monavar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afzal Aghaei
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020065:Hepatopulmonary Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058988:Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors; D010100:Oxygen; D010431:Pentoxifylline