[Fibrinogen and pentoxifylline. Results of a French cooperative exploratory study of stage II arteritis]

A collaborative exploratory study was undertaken by 139 private angiologists in 427 out-patients with PVD stage II treated for 90 days with Pentoxifylline 1 200 mg per day. In 306 patients (71,6%) the fibrinogen level was decreased by 0,21 g/l in mean (p less than 0.01). This significant decrease is correlated to the global improvement (p less than 0.01) and is within the magnitude of difference that is associated between vascular death and comparative groups in recent epidemiologic studies. In 121 patients (28, 4%) of the non responders in whom the claudication was not improved or was even worsened, no change in the fibrinogen level was seen.