Does long-term continuous administration of pentoxifylline affect platelet function in the critically ill patient?
OBJECTIVE: The methylxanthine derivative pentoxifylline (PTX) is one of those promising substances which are under current investigation to modify or limit inflammatory response. Anti-aggregation activity has also been described that may contribute to the beneficial effects of this substance. Long-term effects on platelet function have not been elucidated yet. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized study. SETTING: Clinical investigation on a surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS: 26 trauma patients and 26 patients suffering from sepsis secondary to major operations were consecutively studied. INTERVENTIONS: The patients prospectively received either 1.5 mg/kg per h pentoxifylline continuously for 5 days (after a loading dose of 600 mg) (trauma-PTX, n = 13; sepsis-PTX, n = 13) or saline solution as placebo (trauma-control; n = 13; sepsis-control, n = 13). MEASUREMENTS: On the day of admission (trauma patients) or day of the diagnosis of sepsis and at 12:00 p.m. during
