Effects of pentoxifylline (Trental) on blood flow, viscosity, and oxygen transport in young adults with inoperable cyanotic congenital heart disease.

Four polycythemic young adults with inoperable cyanotic congenital heart disease were treated for 12 weeks with 20 mg/kg/day of pentoxifylline in an attempt to increase pulmonary blood flow by improving red blood cell demorability and decreasing whole blood viscosity. Treatment caused a rise in mean arterial oxygen saturation from 75-82%, a fall in the mean oxygen extraction coefficient from 47-40%, and a fall in mean oxygen consumption from 186-169 ml/min/m2. Pentoxifylline decreased whole blood, but not plasma, viscosity at all hematocrits over a range of shear rates. Two patients had significant bleeding episodes during treatment.