[The effect of pentoxifylline on liver perfusion: a comparative study in patients with liver diseases and in normal subjects, using 198Au-colloid-scintigraphy (author's transl)].

Using 198Au-colloid scintigraphy (Anger camera computer-system, 0.3-0.5 mCi radionuclide i.v.) the pattern of liver blood flow, i.e. liver perfusion volume per minute (LPVM), was monitored in 7 patients with liver metastasis (I), 8 patients each with chronic hepatitis (II) and liver cirrhosis (III) and in 10 healthy control subjects (IV). Reading were compared on a within patient basis for the following treatments: baseline control, after a single i.v. injection of 10 ml Trental (= 200 mg pentoxifylline) and after 10 ml physiological saline solution (= placebo). The alteration of LPVM ranged between +0.6 and -3.2% for the comparison baseline/placebo, between +9.7 and +40.8% for baseline/Trental and between +11.5 and +45.4% for placebo/Trental administration. The increase of the elimination constant was statistically significant for all groups and the augmentation of the LPVM for group II, III and IV.