title: Pentoxifylline (PTX): an alternative treatment in Graves ophthalmopathy (inactive phase): assessment by a disease specific quality of life questionnaire and by exophthalmometry in a prospective randomized trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) in subjects with inactive Graves ophthalmopathy (GO) through a specific quality of life (QOL) questionnaire and exophthalmometry readings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen females were randomly divided in two groups. Group A (n=9) was treated with PTX 1200 mg orally/day for 6 months. Group B (n=9) received placebo during the initial 6 months and then PTX for another 6 months. Proptosis measurements were carried out every 3 months and a questionnaire graded from 0 to 10 according to the severity of the symptoms was performed at baseline and after placebo and PTX administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, Group A questionnaire score values were 5.5 (median; range 3.5 to 8.0), and 5.0 after 6 months (3.0 to 6.0; p=0.01). In Group B, baseline values were not significantly different after 6 months of placebo: 6.0 (4.5 to 7.0) and 5.5 (4.5 to 7.0), respectively. However, a significant change was observed 6 months after PTX: 4.0 (2.0 to 5.0; p<0.001). Patients in Group A had a progressive improvement of proptosis during PTX: at baseline, 23 mm (median; range 20 to 32); after 3 months, 23 mm (18 to 30; p=0.02); and after 6 months, 23 mm (18 to 30; p=0.005). In Group B, proptosis remained stable during placebo: at baseline, 23 mm (21 to 25); after 3 months, 23 mm (20 to 25); and after 6 months, 23.5 mm (20 to 25). A significant change was observed after 3 and 6 months of PTX: 22 mm (19 to 24; p=0.0006) and 20.8 mm (17 to 25; p=0.0003), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pentoxifylline seems to improve the QOL of patients in the inactive phase of GO. The objective findings of the proptosis readings corroborate to suggest that PTX may be an effective and promising drug in the inactive phase of GO. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2004; 14: 277-83).
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, UNIFESP/EPM, So Paulo - Brazil.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Finamor
authors.forename: J R M
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nakanami
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Manso
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Furlanetto