THE ROLE OF PENTOXIFYLLINE iN THE PROTECTION OF ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION INJURY

The role of pentoxifylline on ischemia/reperfusion injury was investigated in a rat hindlimb model. Four hours of isc­ hemia followed by 1-h reperfusion were performed on 12 rats randomized into two equal groups, one served as cont­ rol and the other was treated with pentoxifylline. Blood pH, pO2, pCO2, HCO3, Na, K, CPK, LDH, malondialdehyde levels; and muscle and lung tissue malondialdehyde values were determined. Malondialdehyde, a product of lipid pe­ roxidation, were found significantly low in blood, muscle and lung on pentoxifylline treated rats (p<0.05). These re­ sults suggest that pento xifylline improves ischemia/reperfusion injury and may be used clinically in acute arterial occ­lusion.