Intractable chronic furunculosis: prevention of recurrences with pentoxifylline

A 60-year-old HIV-negative man with known noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and glucose 6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency anemia suffered from chronic recurrent furunculosis since the age of 30. In recent years, his condition had become increasingly severe and the recurrences increasingly frequent. Different measures including continuous therapy with large doses of systemic antibiotics for a period of 6 months failed to prevent the recurrences. Oral treatment with pentoxifylline 400 mg t.i.d. was prescribed, and 2 months later the patient experienced a dramatic and complete remission of his furunculosis. Six months later he was still totally free of lesions while continuing to take the same medication. Pentoxifylline may provide a new and effective approach to the previously difficult and often disappointing problem of the management of patients with chronic recurrent furunculosis.