STIFF RED-CELL SYNDROME - A REVIEW OF THE TREATMENT OF SICKLE-CELL DISEASE WITH PENTOXIFYLLINE

Pentoxifylline has been used extensively to improve microcirculation, particularly in peripheral vascular disease. Pentoxifylline appears to act by increasing red cell flexibility and inhibiting platelet aggreg ation and white cell adhesion. For that reason, experimental and clini cal studies were initiated to explore its possible usefulness in the p revention of vaso-occlusive crises in sickle cell diseases. The curren t status of such studies is reviewed.