EFFECT OF PENTOXIFYLLINE ON SERUM CRP LEVELS IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS COMPARED WITH PLACEBO

Introduction: Inflammation indicates with increased levels of inflammatory markers such as CRP is common in hemodialysis patients. Higher levels of CRP is strong predictor of morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline on serum CRP levels in hemodialysis patients compared with placebo. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 54 patients undergoing hemodialysis were evaluated at Zahedan’s hospitals in 1393 year. Patients were randomly divided into two groups receiving pentoxifylline and placebo. CRP Levels in Patients at months zero, two and four were tested. At the end, the data were analyzed with the software SPSS Ver. 20 and Wilcoxon and chi-square test. Results: The mean age of patients was 45.9 ± 14.8 years, 25 (46.3%) of the patients were male and 29 (53.7%) were female. CRP levels Before the intervention in patients receiving pentoxifylline was 4.5 ± 4.0, two months after the intervention was 2.8 ± 1.6 and four months after the was 2.3 ± 1.3. (P=0.001) CRP levels before the intervention in patients receiving placebo was 5.8 ± 5.6, two months after the intervention was 4.9 ± 3.8 and four months after was 5.1 ± 4.1. (P>0.05)The CRP differences in patients receiving pentoxifylline before and after intervention was 2.2 ± 3.7 and in patients receiving placebo was 0.7 ± 5.3 (P=0.035). Conclusion: Pentoxifylline significantly decreased serum concentrations of CRP compared to placebo. Pentoxifylline could be a promising and useful strategy to reduce the systemic inflammation frequently observed in patients on hemodialysis.