Comparative study of pentoxifylline vs antiaggregants in patients with transient ischaemic attacks

Abstract

Out of 235 patients with recent cerebral transient ischaemic attacks, 208 subjects were available for final evaluation after 6 months' randomised treatment with either pentoxifylline (PTX 1200 mg/day) or a combination (ASAD) of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 1050 mg/day) and dipyridamole (D, 150 mglday). Prevention of TIA, stroke or death attributable to previous events were endpoint criteria.The pentoxifylline group (n = 100) exhibited no recurrent episodes in 86 patients (86010). TIA occurred in 9 patients, stroke in 5 patients and there was 1 death. In the ASAD group (n = 108) no recurrence of ischaemic episodes was recorded in 82 cases (75.9%). TIA occurred in 20 patients, stroke in 6 patients and there were 3 deaths of vascular origin. Side effects were recorded in 4 ASAD and 1 PTX patients. The total rate of recurrence was 14% with PTX as compared to 24.1% with ASAD treatment.

Pentoxifylline for vascular health: a brief review of the literature

“…A subsequent larger study by the same group, likewise of 6-month duration, observed recurrent TIAs in 14% of patients receiving pentoxifylline, and 24.1% of those receiving aspirin/dipyridamole. 48 Treatment of acute ischaemic stroke Four controlled trials, enrolling a total of 763 patients, have assessed the impact of intravenous pentoxifylline on early mortality following acute ischaemic stroke. The daily doses employed ranged from 600 to 1200 mg, and were administered for 3-5 days immediately following stroke onset; in the three studies in which intravenous pentoxifylline was given for 3 days, this was followed up with oral pentoxifylline.…”

Pentoxifylline Ameliorates Subclinical Atherosclerosis Progression in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Randomized Pilot Trial

“…Experimental works show that oral administration of PTF (40 mg/kg) to rabbits fed with a cholesterolenriched diet to induce atherosclerotic plaque was found to decrease the area of aortic atherosclerotic plaque by 38% without changes in serum lipids [23]. In the clinical scenario, two 6-month RCTs evaluated the effects of PTF in patients experiencing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) compared with a control group receiving asprin + dipyridamole [24,25]. During the follow-up, proportion of recurrent TIAs was 14% in the PTF group, and 24.1% in the group receiving aspirin/dipyridamole.…”

Are the Protean Effects of Pentoxifylline in the Therapy of Diabetes and Its Complications Still Relevant?

“…Furthermore, four strokes occurred in the aspirin/dipyridamole group compared with two in the Px group [ 42 ]. A subsequent larger randomized study over 6 months showed that recurrent TIAs occurred in 9% with Px and 20% with aspirin/dipyridamole, and the composite of TIA, strokes and death occurred in 14% on Px and 24.1% with aspirin/dipyridamole [ 43 ].…”