Effect of oxpentifylline on blood viscosity and cerebral blood flow in man

The effects of intravenous oxpentifylline on blood viscosity and cerebral blood flow were studied in eight patients with cerebrovascular disease using a double-blind placebo controlled design. A single dose of 200 mg oxpentifylline in 10 ml saline was given by intravenous injection over 10 min and compared with 10 ml saline alone. Whole blood and plasma viscosity were measured in a Contraves LS 30 coaxial viscometer at shear rates of 0.7 and 94.5 s-1. Cerebral blood flow was measured by the non-invasive intravenous xenon133 clearance method. The measurements were made before and then 30 min after the start of the injection of drug or saline alone. Oxpentifylline was found to have no significant effect on blood viscosity or cerebral blood flow.