Pentoxifylline

Protective effect of pentoxifylline on growth plate in neonatal rats following long-term phototherapy.

Phototherapy alters growth plate structure.

"Sixty weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly separated into three equal groups. Group A, the control group, did not receive phototherapy and pentoxifylline. Groups B and C were exposed to phototherapy for 7 d. In addition to phototherapy, group C was also given pentoxifylline during the study period. Compared with zonal lengths on d 7 after initiation of phototherapy, group B had significantly lower values than group A for all zonal lengths. Zonal lengths of growth plate were increased significantly with pentoxifylline treatment in group C for 7 d compared with group B. After phototherapy, group B had significantly higher values than groups A and C for plasma malondialdehyde levels. The pentoxifylline was found here to have some potential to reduce the effects of phototherapy on growth plate in neonatal rats at a relatively low dose."

"No correlations were found between malondialdehyde levels and growth plate zonal lengths in group A."

"pentoxifylline reduces oxygen radical production and protects against tissue damage in vivo by the action of its metabolites"