Effect of pentoxifylline on endotoxin-induced haemostatic disturbances in rabbits

Pentoxifylline (PTX, a methylxanthine derivative) has been found to interrupt early gene activation for tumour necrosis factor, interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tissue factor production and to improve survival from experimental sepsis. During endotoxaemia, lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) and proinflammatory cytokines trigger the development of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) via the tissue factor-dependent pathway of coagulation. The present study was undertaken to determine whether pentoxifylline could prevent coagulation disturbances in LPS-treated rabbits. Endotoxaemia was induced with E. coli lipopolysaccharide in New Zealand White rabbits. Forty rabbits were used and divided into four equal groups. Group 1 served as a control group; Group 2: lipopolysaccharide was injected intravenously, Group 3: pentoxifylline was injected intraperitoneally, Group 4: lipopolysaccharide and pentoxifylline were injected simultaneously. Blood samples were collected 6 h after the treatments. In rabbits with endotoxin-induced DIC, platelet count, leukocyte count, percentage of differential leukocyte values, fibrinogen level, antithrombin III (AT-III) and protein C (PC) activity were decreased. Moreover, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were prolonged when compared to the control group. In conclusion, haemostatic disturbances associated with endotoxin-induced DIC were moderately suppressed by the administration of PTX.