Systematic review of the use of pentoxifylline and tocopherol for the treatment of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a pathologic process resulting in progressive destruction of the jaws. There are no established guidelines for the medical management of MRONJ. Interest in pentoxifylline and tocopherol is growing because these agents have been shown to be effective in treating osteoradionecrosis of the jaw. This review evaluates the clinical usefulness of pentoxifylline and tocopherol in treating MRONJ.

STUDY DESIGN:

Literature databases were searched for relevant reports of pentoxifylline and tocopherol in treating MRONJ. Only English-language reports and human studies were considered.

RESULTS:

There were 3 published observational studies and 2 abstracts relevant to this topic. The combination of pentoxifylline and tocopherol is associated with subjective and objective improvements and no major adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pentoxifylline and tocopherol has been demonstrated to be effective for managing MRONJ nonsurgically, and, thus, this treatment modality holds promise. However, larger clinical studies are needed to optimize dose and duration.

• Authors: Jiean Joseph Heifetz-Li, Samer Abdelsamie, Conor B Campbell, Stephanie Roth, Allen F Fielding, Joseph P Mulligan
• Journal: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol) Vol. 128 Issue 5 Pg. 491-497.e2 (Nov 2019) ISSN: 2212-4411 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31488389 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Systematic Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Bone Density Conservation Agents
• Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
• Tocopherols
• Pentoxifylline

Topics

• Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw (drug therapy)
• Bone Density Conservation Agents (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Osteoradionecrosis (drug therapy)
• Pentoxifylline (therapeutic use)
• Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Tocopherols (therapeutic use)