Protection by pentoxifylline against normothermic liver ischemia/reperfusion in rats

Previously, pentoxifylline treatment of graft recipients was shown to protect against liver graft failure from storage/reperfusion injury after orthotopic rat liver transplantation. To determine whether pentoxifylline also protects against normothermic ischemia/reperfusion injury to liver, we induced lobar ischemia in rats followed by reflow and partial hepatectomy of the noninvolved liver. In rats receiving pentoxifylline 2 hr before surgery and then twice daily for 5 days, the 1-week survival rate more than doubled from 25% to 67% (P < 0.05). Liver enzymes (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and lactate dehydrogenase) in the serum and liver necrosis evaluated histologically were also significantly reduced in the pentoxifylline-treated rats (P < 0.01). Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion increased leukocyte infiltration into the lungs, and pentoxifylline tended to reduce this lung injury (P = 0.06). These results show that pentoxifylline treatment reduces hepatic injury and improves survival after normothermic ischemia and reperfusion.