[Effect of pentoxifylline on respiratory distress syndrome in dogs]

We examined effects of early post-treatment with pentoxifylline (PTX) on fat tissue extract (FTE) induced respiratory distress syndrome in dogs. The results indicate that the arterial oxygen tension in the animals received PTX dropped more slowly, the total leukocytes and albumin in BALF were obviously reduced, the increased production of IL-1 and TNF by alveolar macrophages was partly inhibited, other parameters such as W/D ratio were also markedly decreased when compared to the animals received FTE only. PTX decreases neutrophil accumulation and prevents the increase in pulmonary vascular permeability, and attenuates edema formation in FTE-induced lung injury. The mechanism may relate with the effect of PTX inhibiting inflammatory leukocytes and protecting the pulmonary vascular endothelial cells.