Pentoxifylline increases retinal capillary blood flow velocity in patients with diabetes.
Journal Article (Clinical Trial;Journal Article)
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether oral pentoxifylline would improve retinal microvascular hemodynamics and blood rheology in patients with diabetes. DESIGN: Patients were enrolled in a double-masked, placebo-controlled trial of pentoxifylline at 2000 mg/d. Retinal capillary blood velocity and leukocyte density, filterability, viscosity, and fibrinogen content were measured by the blue-field entoptic phenomenon simulation, filtration, rotational viscosimetry, and heat precipitation techniques, respectively, before, during, and after drug therapy. RESULTS: Treatment with pentoxifylline resulted in a 23.2%, 26.8%, and 37.8% increase in capillary blood flow velocity at 1, 2, and 3 months of therapy, respectively, with a return to pretreatment baseline levels 1 month after cessation of therapy. There were no apparent effects on the remaining variables during treatment. CONCLUSION: Pentoxifylline increases retinal capillary blood flow velocity in patients with diabetes.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Sonkin, PL; Kelly, LW; Sinclair, SH; Hatchell, DL
Published Date
- December 1993
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 111 / 12
Start / End Page
- 1647 - 1652
PubMed ID
- 8155035
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0003-9950
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1001/archopht.1993.01090120069024
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States