In vitro effects of pentoxifylline on hemoglobin affinity for oxygen and electrolytic equilibrium of human blood.

The in vitro effects of a pentoxifylline solution on hemoglobin-oxygen affinity and electrolytic distribution between plasma and red blood cells were evaluated. Pentoxifylline increased intracellular pH and decreased extracellular pH. There were no exchanges of Na+, K+, Ca++ and Cl- between plasma and red blood cells. Red blood cell content of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate remained unchanged, while P50 was reduced as a consequence of the intracellular alkalosis. The possible implications of the metabolic effects of pentoxifylline on red blood cell deformability and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate content in vivo are discussed.