Successful treatment of Schamberg's disease with pentoxifylline

Three patients with Schamberg's disease were treated with pentoxifylline, 300 mg daily for 8 weeks. A significant response was observed within 2 to 3 weeks. One patient had recurrence after discontinuation of this treatment; but promptly responded to resumption of therapy. No adverse effects were noted in any patients. We investigated the expression pattern of adhesion molecules in relation to perivascular accumulation of lymphocytes in specimens obtained before and after treatment with pentoxifylline in these patients. Our results suggest that pentoxifylline exerts its therapeutic effects on Schamberg's disease at the level of T-cell adherence to endothelial cells and keratinocytes.