[Pentoxifylline and intermittent claudication: critical analysis of clinical trials]

Drug utility in the treatment of intermittent claudication is controversial, mainly because of data heterogeneity and not too obvious benefit in the clinical trials. Pentoxifylline is the world's largest prescribed drug for intermittent claudication. In an attempt to define its benefit in the global care of the claudicants, we have analysed all the randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trials listed from the international data-bases. Methodology of these trials have been compared with the European and FDA guidelines. In this respect, the 3 best suitable studies are consistent with one other and with a statistical benefit of pentoxifylline on the claudication distances. Although this effect is not truly predictive of the long term benefit-risk ratio of the drug, it seems clinically useful, especially when considering stable patients and when using the drug after previous physical training.