The effect of pentoxifiline on post-injury hyperalgesia in rats and postoperative pain in patients

Recent studies demonstrate that activation of proinflammatory cytokines fol lowing injury intensifies the process of nociception. The present investiga tion assessed the influence of pre-injury pentoxifiline (PTFL, a non-specif ic cytokine inhibitor) on the development of post-injury nociception in ani mals and patients. It was established that intrathecal or intraperitoneal P TFL, elevated the nociceptive threshold for mechanical stimuli in the forma lin test in rats. Pre-injury PTFL also inhibited pain-related behaviour. Th ese findings correlate with a lower TNF alpha level in the serum of animals receiving pre-injury PTFL. In clinical investigations PTFL was administere d intravenously before elective cholecystectomy. Patients who received preo perative PTFL had lower opioid requirements in the early postoperative peri od than control. At the same time, serum levels of TNFa and IL6 were lower in the PTFL group. Our results confirm the hypothesis as to the possibility of modulating of nociception through preemptive administration of a cytoki ne inhibitor.