Use of pentoxifylline in membranous nephropathy

Urinary TNF-alpha excretion correlates with proteinutia in patients with me mbranous nephropathy (MGN). Pentoxifylline suppresses or reduces the produc tion of TNF-alpha. Between April, 1999 and August, 2000, we did a single-ce ntre, prospective, pilot study to assess the effects of pentoxifylline (120 0 mg/day) on proteinuria in patients with idiopathic MGN. Ten patients were included and treated fore months. Pentoxifylline significantly decreased p roteinuria from 11 g/day [range 4.6-27] to 1.8 (0-10.9); p=0.001). Pentoxif ylline may be a safe and effective adjunct to steroids and immunosuppressan ts in patients with MGN.