Pentoxifylline does not reduce cerebral ischemic edema in hypertensive rats.

Continuous infusion of pentoxifylline 0.30 mg per kg per min starting 30 min after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery did not reduce the development of cerebral edema, as measured by specific gravity 6 h after occlusion in spontaneously hypertensive rats. On the contrary, in the parietal region the specific gravity was significantly lower in treated rats, indicating an increased water content. Thus, this study failed to show any beneficial effect of pentoxifylline in brain edema during early permanent ischemia.