Intravenous oxypentifylline in critical limb ischaemia

In an open tolerability study, 36 consecutive patients with critical ischaemia of the lower limbs were treated with intravenous oxypentifylline 1, 200 mg daily for up to three weeks. Patients were assessed objectively using a radioisotope limb blood flow technique and a subjective assessment of the patient's pain was made using linear analogue pain scores and analgesia scores. Treatment was well tolerated in 34 patients but was discontinued in two because of significant side effects. Fifty per cent of the remaining patients avoided surgical reconstruction or amputation and were discharged home on oral oxypentifylline. The results of the radioisotope limb blood flow study showed no change following treatment but the pain scores and analgesia scores decreased significantly in the patients who avoided surgical treatment. Intravenous oxypentifylline is usually well tolerated and may be a useful adjunct to the treatment of critical ischaemia where reconstructive surgery is impossible or undesirable. This type of treatment warrants study in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.