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The use of pentoxifylline (Trental) in diabetic retinopathy

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Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Macular Diseases

Part of the book series: Documenta Ophthalmologica Proceedings Series ((DOPS,volume 62))

Abstract

Pentoxifylline represents a new class of medications used to treat peripheral vascular disease. Its mechanism of action is to decrease blood viscosity by increasing red blood cell flexibility and reducing serum fibrinogen levels1. This drug corrects impaired erythrocyte deformability and exerts a beneficial effect on the clinical symptoms of vascular diseases. The expected rheological properties of pentoxifylline mainly affect blood flow in small vessels and capillaries. Available evidence suggests that diabetic haemorrheological changes may be important in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic microangiopathy2.

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References

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© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Gombos, G.M., Gombos, D.S. (1998). The use of pentoxifylline (Trental) in diabetic retinopathy. In: Coscas, G., Piccolino, F.C. (eds) Retinal Pigment Epithelium and Macular Diseases. Documenta Ophthalmologica Proceedings Series, vol 62. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5137-5_70

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5137-5_70

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6160-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5137-5

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