TY - JOUR
T1 - Pentoxifylline as a supportive agent in the treatment of cerebral malaria in children
AU - Di Perri, Giovanni
AU - Di Perri, Haria Guasparri
AU - Monteiro, Geraldo Badona
AU - Bonora, Stefano
AU - Hennig, Cornelia
AU - Cassatella, Marco
AU - Micciolo, Rocco
AU - Vento, Sandro
AU - Dusi, Stella
AU - Bassetti, Dante
AU - Concia, Ercole
PY - 1995/5
Y1 - 1995/5
N2 - In an open, randomized, controlled therapeutic trial, 56 children with cerebral malaria (CM) were randomly assigned to receive standard Quinine regimen with or without pentoxifylline (10 mg/kg/day by continuous intravenous infusion). Pentoxifylline exerted an inhibitory effect on the synthesis of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a possible mediator of CM. The 26 children who received pentoxifylline had significantly shorter comas than controls (median, 6 vs. 46 h; P <.001). Pentoxifylline recipients showed a trend toward a lower mortality, with a borderline significant difference (P =.055). The better outcome in the pentoxifylline group was associated with a decline in TNF serum levels on the third day of treatment in a few subjects that was not seen in controls. While alternative or concurrent mechanisms of action may be of some relevance, larger double-blind trials are needed to determine whether pentoxifylline has a therapeutic role in CM.
AB - In an open, randomized, controlled therapeutic trial, 56 children with cerebral malaria (CM) were randomly assigned to receive standard Quinine regimen with or without pentoxifylline (10 mg/kg/day by continuous intravenous infusion). Pentoxifylline exerted an inhibitory effect on the synthesis of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a possible mediator of CM. The 26 children who received pentoxifylline had significantly shorter comas than controls (median, 6 vs. 46 h; P <.001). Pentoxifylline recipients showed a trend toward a lower mortality, with a borderline significant difference (P =.055). The better outcome in the pentoxifylline group was associated with a decline in TNF serum levels on the third day of treatment in a few subjects that was not seen in controls. While alternative or concurrent mechanisms of action may be of some relevance, larger double-blind trials are needed to determine whether pentoxifylline has a therapeutic role in CM.
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U2 - 10.1093/infdis/171.5.1317
DO - 10.1093/infdis/171.5.1317
M3 - Article
C2 - 7751709
AN - SCOPUS:0028912884
VL - 171
SP - 1317
EP - 1322
JO - Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - Journal of Infectious Diseases
SN - 0022-1899
IS - 5
ER -