Pentoxifylline attenuates platelet activating factor-induced permeable edema in isolated perfused guinea pig lungs.

The effect of pentoxifylline (Pen) on platelet activating factor (PAF)-induced pulmonary injury was studied in isolated guinea pig lungs perfused with cell-free Tris buffered Ringer solution. PAF (1.0 nmol.L-1) increased lung weight and pulmonary filtration coefficient (Kf), which indicated the formation of high permeable pulmonary edema. Pen (0.5 and 1.0 mmol.L-1) markedly attenuated the PAF-induced increment of lung weight and vascular permeability, but not the increment of pulmonary capillary pressure and venous resistance. There was no correlation between the severity of lung edema and the number of leukocytes in the perfusates. These results suggest that Pen has direct anti-permeability effect on pulmonary microvessels.