A Randomized Clinical Trial of the Effect of Pentoxifylline on C-Reactive Protein Level and Dialysis Adequacy in End-stage Renal Disease Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION:  C-reactive protein (CRP) is increased among patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Such inflammatory markers can result in protein-energy deficit syndromes and low adequacy of dialysis in these patients. This study evaluated the effect of pentoxifylline on serum CRP level and KT/V in end-stage renal disease patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This 1-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 73 patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance hemodialysis assessed the effectiveness of 400 mg/d of pentoxifylline on serum CRP level decrease and improvement of dialysis adequacy.

RESULTS: The difference in mean serum CRP levels of the pentoxifylline and placebo groups was not significant before study. While CRP showed showed a significant increase in the placebo group after completing the interventions (P = .01), the difference was nonsignificant in the pentoxifylline group (P = .53). The difference in the mean adequacy of dialysis was not significant before the interventions between the two groups, while there was a significant increase in the pentoxifylline group (P = .01) and a nonsignificant increase in the placebo group (P = .31) after the interventions.

CONCLUSIONS: Among patients on maintenance hemodialysis, a 1-month trial of pentoxifylline was associated with a substantial improvement of adequacy of dialysis and a significant prevention from serum CRP level increase, but not a significant reduction in the mean serum CRP level.