The haemorheological and antithrombotic potential of pentoxifylline ('Trental'): a review.

Haemorheological knowledge achieved in the past decade has revealed the essential interactions of flow properties of blood with haemostatic, coagulation, and vessel wall mechanisms in blood flow disturbances. Fine tuning of these factors maintains the physiologically adequate perfusion of the nutritive microcirculation. Under pathological conditions, therefore, the most beneficial effect can be expected from the therapeutic approaches which, apart from the disturbed flow properties of the blood itself, improve also all the other factors involved. In consequence, it is suggested that treatment of circulatory disturbances should be directed not only at the reduction of enhanced red blood cell aggregation and improvement of impaired red blood cell deformability, but also at a diminuation of enhanced platelet and white cell hyperreactivity as well as at an amendment of hypercoagulability and of the affected endothelial and vessel wall systems. Experimental and clinical studies are reviewed to show that pentoxifylline meets these different requirements to a great extent. Its multi-functional pharmacological profile suggests new aspects in the treatment of circulatory disorders in many diseases and in the prevention of thrombotic events.