Failure of pentoxifylline for end-stage peripheral vascular disease

In this trial of pentoxifylline, 15 patients with end-stage peripheral vascular disease had symptoms severe enough to warrant operation, but surgery was contraindicated because of anatomically noncorrectable disease, serious medical problems, or refusal. Their mean age was sixty-six years. Each patient received oral pentoxifylline, 400 mg tid, for twelve weeks. Pentoxifylline had no measurable clinical benefit in 14 of the patients. In addition, the authors noted an increased incidence of symptomatic coronary artery insufficiency during the trial period that may or may not have been drug related.