Pentoxifylline to treat CCSVI

[Nunzio]

Trental (pentoxifylline) has been used in the past to treat MS because of its anti-TNF(tumor necrosis factor) properties.
It is used to treat patient with claudication (difficulty walking) because of poor circulation. It works by allowing red blood cells to become more pliable and be able to squeeze through narrow spaces.
Since with CCSVI there is a narrowing of the veins draining from the brain it might help in this condition too.

[LR1234]

Interesting thoughts, I will look into this:)

[Cece]

It's interesting. It's a drug that's used for chronic venous insufficiency in the legs. I googled it yesterday. Unfortunately it turned up a few studies of pentoxyfilline in m.s. patients in which the drug failed to produce any improvements. The idea too with this drug is that it changes the shape of the red blood cell for better blood flow.

[MarkW]

I do not understand why the vast majority of pwMS would consider pentoxyfilline which has significant side effects over venoplasty. I am a registered pharmacist and support the pharma industry so when I say use venoplasty not drugs it is realistic advice.

MarkW

[Nunzio]

I noticed there were a couple of studies done on a small number of subjects that did not show an improvement and some done on animals with EAE which of course is not applicable to CCSVI.
Conceptually it should work and not have the possible side effect as aspirine to increase brain microhemorrhage which can increase the iron deposition.
Of course the surgical correction is the final answer but while we wait to be approved in the USA it might help