Measurement of cerebral blood flow following intravenous administration of pentoxifyline ('Trentral')

Using 99mTc cerebral scintigraphy and a gamma camera/computer system, the pattern of cerebral blood flow in 5 brain areas was monitored in 30 geriatric patients with cerebrovascular insufficiency. Readings were compared on a within-patient basis for the following treatments: initial control (I), intravenous administration of 10 ml physiological saline solution (II), and intravenous administration of 10 ml (200 mg) pentoxifylline (III). By comparsion with treatment I and II, pentoxifylline produced significant increases in cerebral blood flow. It is suggested that this increase in perfusion is possibly due to an improvement in the flow properties of blood.