Effects of Pentoxifylline on Inflammatory Factors and Quality of Life in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Background: Pentoxifylline has anti-inflammatory effects in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and may play an important role in reducing inflammatory factors and improving quality of life (QoL) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: In this randomized placebo-controlled trial 88 chronic hemodialysis patients were divided into two groups with equal numbers. Intervention group received tablet pentoxifylline 400 milligrams and control group received the matching placebo, daily for 3 months. At baseline and after 3 months, inflammatory factors including serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Also, the Medical Outcome Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) quality of life (QoL) questionnaire was completed by each patient at the beginning and end of the study. <em style="font-size: 14px; font-family: 'MS Sans Serif';">Results: Significant reduction in serum levels of TNF-a, CRP as well as substantial improvement of all dimensions of QoL were observed in intervention group after 3 months of pentoxifylline treatment (P = 0.04; P <0.001, P <0.05 respectively). Between groups comparison showed marked reduction in inflammatory markers including TNF-a and CRP in recipients of pentoxifylline than control group at the end of the study (P = 0.003 for both). In addition to dimensions of physical component score (PCS), mental component score (MCS) and overall score of QoL showed significant improvement in the pentoxifylline group compared to the placebo group at month 3 of the study (P = 0.003; P = 0.027, P = 0.002 respectively). Conclusion: Use of pentoxifylline in HD patients illustrated positive effects on inflammation and health-related QoL.