Effects of indobufen and pentoxifylline on walking capacity and hemostasis in patients with intermittent claudication: results of six months of treatment.

Seventy-one patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) were randomized into two groups of different treatment modalities. The diagnosis of PAOD was established by history of intermittent claudication, clinical examination, and by Doppler pressure assessment or lower extremity arteriography. After a three-month washout period, 35 patients (Group 1) started treatment with indobufen (400 mg per day) and 36 patients (Group 2) with pentoxifylline (600 mg per day). Twenty-nine patients from each group completed six months of treatment. Both of the drugs significantly improved maximal and pain-free walking distances, but the effect of indobufen was more pronounced than that of pentoxifylline. Patients with PAOD exhibited signs of hypercoagulation. Fibrinogen, D-dimer, and b-thromboglobulin concentrations did not change significantly following treatment in both of the groups. The authors observed a decrease of platelet aggregation after treatment with indobufen and a decrease of F1 + 2 fragment and PAI-1 antigen after treatment with pentoxifylline.