title: Pentoxifylline for the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pentoxifylline has been used to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLDs) due to its anti-tumor necrosis factor-α effects. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials to investigate the effect of pentoxifylline on the biochemical and histological parameters of NAFLD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the database including PubMed, Embase, ISI web of knowledge, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar to identify randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials about the effects of pentoxifylline on NAFLD. The pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated to compare the effects of pentoxifylline and placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five well-designed studies were retrieved. Pooled results showed that pentoxifylline significantly reduced the serum alanine transaminase activity (WMD=-27.97; 95% CI: -42.59, -13.34) and aspartate transaminase activity (WMD=-13.97; 95% CI: -23.31, -4.63) in NAFLD patients compared with placebo. In addition, pentoxifylline significantly improved steatosis (WMD=-0.68; 95% CI: -1.01, -0.34), lobular inflammation (WMD=-0.49; 95% CI: -0.86, -0.12), and fibrosis (WMD=-0.60; 95% CI: -0.99, -0.21). Furthermore, pentoxifylline also led to significant reduction in BMI (WMD=-0.51; 95% CI: -0.96, -0.06) and fasting glucose (WMD=-8.97; 95% CI: -14.52, -3.42), but did not significantly affect the serum tumor necrosis factor α and adiponectin levels when compared with placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pentoxifylline could reduce the aminotransferase activities and improve the histological parameters in NAFLD patients. Large well-designed, randomized, placebo-controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environment and Health, Institute of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Cui-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiu-Lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ke-Qin
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000637:Transaminases; D010431:Pentoxifylline