Pharmacologic Substance
pentoxifylline Audio
[ pen-tok-sih-fuh-lin ]
Effect:
Decreased Blood Viscosity
May Treat:
Brain Ischemia; Diabetic Angiopathies; Diabetic Neuropathies; Gangrene; Impotence, Vasculogenic; Intermittent Claudication; Malaria, Cerebral; Stroke; Thrombosis; Vasculitis
More Information:
ChemID; DrugBank; DailyMed; PDR
Definitions related to pentoxifylline:
  • A drug used to prevent blood clotting and as a treatment that may help decrease weight loss in people with cancer.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A METHYLXANTHINE derivative that inhibits phosphodiesterase and affects blood rheology. It improves blood flow by increasing erythrocyte and leukocyte flexibility. It also inhibits platelet aggregation. Pentoxifylline modulates immunologic activity by stimulating cytokine production.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • A methylxanthine derivative with hemorrheologic and immunomodulating properties. Pentoxifylline inhibits phosphodiesterase, resulting in increased levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in erythrocytes, endothelium, and the surrounding tissues. This leads to vasodilation, improves erythrocyte flexibility, and enhances blood flow. In addition, the increased level of cAMP in platelets inhibits platelet aggregation, which may contribute to a reduction in blood viscosity. This agent also inhibits production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma, while it induces Th2-like (T-helper 2) cytokine production, thereby inhibiting Th1-mediated (T-helper 1) inflammatory and autoimmune responses.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Metabolite of pentifylline (a preparation of theobromine and hexyl halide); used as a vasodilator.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
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This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.