Effects of pentoxifylline and metabolite on red blood cell deformability as measured by ektacytometry.

The present investigation sought to evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline and its major hydroxyhexyl metabolite on red blood cell (RBC) deformability using the technique of ektacytometry. Red blood cells were harvested from normal volunteers (normal RBCs) and patients with sickle cell disease (abnormal RBCs) and incubated with varying concentrations of pentoxifylline and its major metabolite for varying time periods. The deformability of both treated and untreated RBCs from both patient groups was assessed by ektacytometric analysis. In contrast to the in vitro effects of pentoxifylline on whole-blood filterability, the present results demonstrated no effect of pentoxifylline or metabolite on RBC deformability at any concentration or incubation time period. Pentoxifylline does not enhance RBC deformability following acute in vitro incubation, and this suggests the need for further evaluation of the mechanism of action of this drug.