Does oxpentifylline (‘Trental’) have a place in the treatment of intermittent claudication?

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
SummaryIn a randomized double-blind study, the clinical and haemorrheological responses of 40 patients receiving oxpentifylline (200 mg 3-times daily) were compared with those of 40 patients receiving placebo. The treatment period in both groups was 2 months. The parameters measured before and after treatment were: subjective response; claudication and maximum walking distances; ankle systolic indices; maximum blood flow in the lower limb by gravimetric plethysmography; plasma fibrinogen; erythrocyte deformability and whole blood viscosity. There was a significant increase (p<0.05) in mean erythrocyte deformability in the oxpentifylline group but not in the placebo group; this apparent difference between the groups, however, was not significant. The placebo group showed a significant improvement (p<0.05) in claudication distance and mean plasma fibrinogen concentration, but no such improvements were observed in the oxpentifylline group. There were no significant differences in either of the two groups wit...