Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-6-3
pubmed:abstractText
The optimal therapy for sarcoidosis remains unclear. Most patients show a short-term response to corticosteroid therapy, but they have to face the risk of significant side effects. Because tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) plays a critical role in granuloma formation and sustenance as well as in the progression of sarcoidosis, we investigated pentoxifylline (POF), which exerts TNF-inhibitory activity, as a therapeutic agent in active pulmonary sarcoidosis. Twenty-three previously untreated patients with documented disease progression during the preceding 3 mo were treated with POF (25 mg/kg daily) and followed for 6 mo of therapy. Two patients were lost to follow-up, and three patients discontinued POF therapy because of gastrointestinal side effects; 18 patients were thus evaluated. Eleven patients improved, seven remained stable and, most importantly, none deteriorated. Lung function tests-DL(CO), Pa(O2) and Pa(O2)[exercise]-were significantly improved in the patient group as a whole and increased in a highly significant manner in those who improved. Three patients with corticosteroid-resistant disease progression were additionally treated with a combination of corticosteroids with POF. In all three patients the combination therapy resulted in an immediate complete decrease of disease activity, even after tapering prednisone to 7.5 mg daily or tapering off corticosteroids. These promising results suggest that POF may improve therapeutic regimens in pulmonary sarcoidosis either by sparing or replacing corticosteroids.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
1073-449X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
155
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1665-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1997
pubmed:articleTitle
Pentoxifylline in treatment of sarcoidosis.
pubmed:affiliation
Medizinische Klinik Forschungszentrum Borstel, Germany.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't