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The effect of pentoxifylline on the pulmonary response to high tidal volume ventilation in rats
Andrea Lessa1, Cleide Suguihara, Shuming Xianyu
1Department of Pediatrics (R-131), Division of Neonatology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, PO Box 016960, Miami, FL 33101, USA.
Background:
Volume-induced lung injury is associated with lung inflammation. Pentoxifylline inhibits cytokine release and modulates neutrophil function.
Objective:
To evaluate the efficacy of pentoxifylline in the attenuation of lung inflammation induced by high tidal volume ventilation.
Design:
Adult rats were randomly assigned to receive saline as placebo or pentoxifylline (100mg/kg over 30 min, followed by 50mg/kg/h) before and during 4h of high tidal volume ventilation (20 ml/kg). Bronchoalveolar fluid inflammatory mediators were measured at baseline and after 4h of ventilation. Lung tissue myeloperoxidase activity and wet/dry lung weight were assessed upon completion of the study.
Results:
Bronchoalveolar tumor necrosis factor-alpha (pentoxifylline vs. placebo; 192+/-61 vs. 543+/-99 pg/ml; p<0.007) and thromboxane B(2) (262+/-26 vs. 418+/-49 pg/ml; p<0.02) concentrations, lung myeloperoxidase activity (0.5+/-0.1 vs. 1.2+/-0.2U/mg; p<0.003) and wet/dry weight (6.1+/-0.2 vs. 7.1+/-0.3; p<0.01) were all significantly lower in the pentoxifylline-treated group.
Conclusion:
Pentoxifylline was effective in reducing inflammatory lung injury associated with high tidal volume ventilation.
