Lack of Effect of Pentoxifylline on Red Blood Cell Deformability

Abstract

The proposed mechanism of action for pentoxifylline's beneficial effect in peripheral vascular disease is an improvement in red blood cell deformability. Likewise, single doses of pentoxifylline in healthy volunteers have been shown to improve whole blood filterability, which was suggested to occur as a result of augmented red blood cell deformability. To further assess this, the authors studied the effects of short-term pentoxifylline administration (400 mg three times daily for 7 days) on red blood cell deformability in ten healthy, methylxanthine-free, nonsmoking volunteers. Blood samples were obtained at baseline and after 1 week of therapy (steady-state). Samples were analyzed for red blood cell deformability by ektacytometry, which showed no significant change in deformability in any subject. Despite the improvement in whole blood filterability associated with both single-dose and short-term administration of pentoxifylline, the current study demonstrates no effect on red blood cell deformability after short-term administration in healthy volunteers.

Hemorheological changes dependent on the time from the onset of ischemic stroke

“…Among the drugs affecting the rheological properties of blood, only pentoxifilline should improve the elasticity of red cells but there have also been reports denying such effect [14] or even any role of this drug in the secondary prevention of cerebral ischaemia [15]. On the other hand, the protective mechanisms of feedback may turn out to be very important [16].…”

The Effects of Pentoxifylline on Equine Platelet Aggregation

“…Some studies also have shown that PTX increases RBC deformability (RBCD) in normal human patients and that pretreatment with PTX can prevent the decrease in RBCD observed in blood circulated through bypass machines during open heart surgery 19 . The results of these latter studies are controversial, however, in that other studies have shown no effect of PTX on human RBCD 20,21 …”