Effect of Pentoxifylline on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Acute Cerebral Infarction

Kim, Dal Soo; Kim, Young; Park, Chun Kun; Kang, Joon Ki; Song, Jin Un

Abstract

Focal cerebral ischemia was made in 20 adult cats by transorbital middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) under pentobarbital anesthesia. Arterial blood gas, systemic arterial blood pressure (SABP), intracranial pressure (ICP), and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) on ectosylvian, suprasylvian, and marginal gyrus of the left hemisphere by hydrogen clearance were measured for 30 minutes before and 120 minutes after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Ten animals were treated with 20 mg/kg of pentoxifylline (PTF) and ten animals with 1ml/kg of normal saline as the control group for 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after middle cerebral artery occlusion. There was no beneficial effect of pentoxifylline (Trental(R)) on basal blood flow over left hemisphere before middle cerebral artery occlusion. Regional cerebral blood flow was highly significantly improved on the marginal gyrus (MG) for 90 minutes after middle cerebral artery occlusion, more remarkable for initial 60 minutes (P<0.01), and also significantly restored on suprasylvian gyrus (SSG) for initial 60 minutes by pentoxifylline (P<0.05). However, pentoxifylline failed to improve regional cerebral flow on extosylvian gyrus (ESG) which was considered dense core of infarct area due to middle cerebral artery occlusion in cat. In addition, pentoxifylline had significant hypotensive effect during intravenous administration for 60 minutes (P<0.05). These findings suggest the possibility of pentoxifylline to ameliorate hemorheological property rather than vasodilating effect in the collaterally perfused area around dense infarct.