Intravenous oxpentifylline and the painful crisis of sickle cell disease

Article type: Research Article

Authors: De Ceulaer, K.^a | Serjeant, G.R.^{a; *} | Nagel, R.L.^b | Billett, H.H.^b | Christakis, J.^c | Loukopoulos, D.^d | Bellingham, A.J.^e | Lucas, G.S.^f | Stuart, J.^f

Affiliations: [a] The Medical Research Council Laboratories (Jamaica), University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica | [b] The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York | [c] Department of Haematology, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece | [d] First Department of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece | [e] Department of Haematology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK | [f] Department of Haematology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Correspondence: [*] Correspondence to: Professor G.R. Serjeant.

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor J.A. Dormandy (Received in final form by Executive Editorial Office 11.10.1989)

Abstract: Oxpentifylline, a synthetic xanthine derivative with a rheological action on sickle cells in vitro, has been assessed for the treatment of sickle cell painful crisis in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial of 62 patients. Oxpentifylline was given as a continuous intravenous infusion for a maximum of 96 hours. No statistically significant difference between the placebo and treatment groups was found for the clinical end-points of resolution of local tenderness, restoration of local movement, overall mobility, sleep disturbance, and complete resolution of symptoms.

Keywords: Rheology, Erythrocyte deformability, Sickle cell anemia

DOI: 10.3233/CH-1990-10104

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 35-42, 1990