EFFECT OF PENTOXIFYLLINE ON HEPATIC ISCHEMIA AND REPERFUSION INJURY

Background. Although pentoxifylline has been shown to improve tissue o xygenation and restore hepatocellular function after hemorrhagic shock , its effect on hepatic ischemia and reperfusion injury has not been f ully clarified. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pen toxifylline exerted beneficial effects on liver histopathologic change s and enzymatic release caused by ischemia and reperfusion. Methods. W arm, reversible hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced in fou r groups of pigs. Preoperative oral (24 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) or intraope rative intravenous (50 mg/kg) pentoxifylline was administered. Control animals received intravenous normal saline solution. Results. Untreat ed control animals exhibited significant liver damage expressed by hep atic histopathologic changes and high plasma levels of aminotransferas e. Decreased animal survival was seen in the untreated group. All trea ted animals survived. Pentoxifylline given orally did not improve hist opathologic changes or enzyme release. Intravenous administration caus ed significant amelioration of liver tissue damage, marked reduction o f aspartate aminotransferase levels, and mild attenuation of alanine a minotransferase levels, as compared with control. Conclusions. This st udy indicates that intraoperative, intravenous pentoxifylline reduces hepatic injury after warm ischemia and reperfusion.