Oral Pentoxifylline for Treatment of Venous Leg Ulcers

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 12 studies with a total of 864 subjects. Pentoxifylline was more effective than placebo in terms of complete healing or significant improvement (RR 1.70, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.24; 11 studies). Pentoxifylline and compression was more effective than placebo and compression (RR for healing 1.56, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.13; 7 studies). Pentoxifylline in the absence of compression appears to be more effective than placebo or no treatment (RR 2.25, 95% CI 1.49 to 3.39; 4 studies). More adverse effects were reported in people receiving pentoxifylline (RR 1.56, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.22; 9 studies). Nearly three-quarters (72%) of the reported adverse effects were gastrointestinal.

The following decision support rules contain links to this evidence summary:

• Pentoxifylline for venous leg ulcer http://www.ebmeds.org/ebmeds/ebmeds_home.asp?mode=scripts&submode=view&id=scr00423&country=UK

References

• Jull AB, Arroll B, Parag V et al. Pentoxifylline for treating venous leg ulcers. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2012;(12):CD001733. [PubMed].