title: Effects of pentoxifylline on inflammatory markers and blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
abstract: Pentoxifylline is a xanthine derivative with potential cardiovascular benefits.
  
  
  
  To evaluate the impact of pentoxifylline on blood pressure (BP) and plasma TNF-α, C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6 through a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
  
  
  
  The protocol was registered (PROSPERO: CRD42016035988). The search included PUBMED, ProQuest, Scopus and EMBASE until 1 September 2015 to identify trials reporting BP or inflammatory markers during pentoxifylline therapy. Quantitative data synthesis was performed using a random-effects model, with weighted mean difference (WDF) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as summary statistics.
  
  
  
  Fifteen studies (16 treatment arms) were found to be eligible for inclusion. Meta-analysis did not suggest any effect of pentoxifylline on either SBP or DBP. Pentoxifylline treatment was associated with a significant reduction in plasma concentrations of TNF-α (WDF: -1.03 pg/ml, 95% CI: -1.54, -0.51; P < 0.001, 11 treatment arms) and CRP (WDF: -1.39 mg/l, 95% CI: -2.68, -0.10; P = 0.034, five treatment arms). No alteration in plasma IL-6 concentration was observed. The impact of pentoxifylline on plasma TNF-α levels was found to be positively associated with treatment duration (slope: 0.031; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.057; P = 0.023) but independent of pentoxifylline dose (slope: -0.0003; 95% CI: -0.002, 0.001; P = 0.687).
  
  
  
  Pentoxifylline did not alter BP or plasma IL-6 concentration, but significantly reduced circulating TNF-α and CRP concentrations.
authors: aInstitute for Cardiovascular Medicine Timisoara, Cardiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy 'Victor Babes', Timisoara, Romania bBiotechnology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran cMetabolic Research Centre, Royal Perth Hospital, School of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia dSchool of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK eIndependent Pharmacist Researcher, Leuven, Belgium fDepartment of Functional Sciences, Discipline of Public Health, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania gDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA hDepartment of Functional Sciences, Discipline of Pathophysiology, 'Victor Babes' University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania iIstituto Auxologico Italiano, University of Milan, Milan, Italy jDepartment of Biostatistics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA kVeterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia lDepartment of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA mUniversity of Birmingham Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK nDivision of Cardiology, Heart Disease Prevention Program, University of California, Irvine, California, USA oChair of Nephrology and Hypertension pDepartment of Hypertension, Chair of Nephrology and Hypertension, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland.
authors: Daniel
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authors: ND
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mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D010431:Pentoxifylline