The Trials and Tribulations of Pentoxifylline
Abstract
Follow-UpThe Trials and Tribulations of Pentoxifylline SAGE Publications, Inc.1992DOI: 10.1177/153100359200500212 David J. Effeney M.B., B.S., F.R.A.C.S. Julie A. Stokes B.Pharm. Helen M. Trenerry B.Pharm. The syndrome of intermittent claudication is the most common reason a patient with atherosclerosis of the abdominal aorta, its iliac branches or leg arteries, presents for an opinion about therapy. The prevalence of this syndrome is approximately 1.5% to 6% in menl2 and slightly less than 2% in women.3 The Framingham study data suggest a 2:1 male-female ratio at presentation.' The rate of presentation increases with age up to 75 years, after which the incidence rate levels off. Intermittent claudication has a favorable prognosis in terms of limb salvage. Only 5% to 6% of the claudicant population progress to ischemia severe enough to require amputation within 5 years of presentation.5-' Claudication is, however, an important predictor of the presence of atherosclerosis in other vascular beds. It is a marker of increased cardiovascular mortality.8-10 Despite the increased mortality ratios for both men and women, 70% to 80% of claudicants survive 5 years, 40% survive 10 years, and 26% are still alive 15 years after first presentations. 11,12 The diagnosis of atherosclerotic involvement of the lower