Pilot study of pentoxifylline in hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Abstract

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) results when chronic liver disease or portal hypertension causes intrapulmonary microvascular dilatation with hypoxemia. In experimental HPS, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) overproduction contributes to vasodilatation, which is improved by pentoxifylline, a TNF-alpha inhibitor. The effectiveness of pentoxifylline in humans is unknown. The aim of this open-label, single-arm clinical trial was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of pentoxifylline in patients with cirrhosis and advanced HPS undergoing liver transplantation evaluation. Nine adults with cirrhosis and moderate to severe HPS were enrolled. All patients had an initial 2-week titration to a target dose of pentoxifylline of 400 mg by mouth every 8 hours, which was continued for 6 weeks. Baseline and follow-up arterial blood gases and TNF-alpha levels were evaluated. Adverse effects and tolerability were assessed. The 9 patients had a mean age of 55 +/- 10 years, and 67% were female. The most common causes of cirrhosis were hepatitis C virus and alcohol (55%). The mean Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score was 11 (range, 6-19), and patients had advanced hypoxemia [mean partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO(2)) = 54 +/- 12 mm Hg, mean alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-a PaO(2)) = 57 +/- 15 mm Hg]. Of the 9 patients enrolled, follow-up blood gases were done in 7. There was no significant change in PaO(2) (P = 0.3) or A-a PaO(2) (P = 0.3) with treatment. Pentoxifylline was poorly tolerated. Nausea (100%) and vomiting (56%) were the predominant side effects, and only a single patient was able to complete full-dose therapy. Treatment with pentoxifylline did not improve arterial oxygenation in advanced HPS, and tolerance was limited by gastrointestinal toxicity.

• Authors: Rajasekhar Tanikella, George M Philips, Dorothy K Faulk, Steven M Kawut, Michael B Fallon
• Journal: Liver transplantation : official publication of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and the International Liver Transplantation Society (Liver Transpl) Vol. 14 Issue 8 Pg. 1199-203 (Aug 2008) ISSN: 1527-6473 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18668653 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Pentoxifylline

Topics

• Aged
• Blood Gas Analysis
• Female
• Hepatopulmonary Syndrome (blood, drug therapy, etiology)
• Humans
• Liver Cirrhosis (blood, complications)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pentoxifylline (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Pilot Projects
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (blood)