[The effect of pentoxifylline on treatment results and course of rehabilitation of patients after ischemic stroke]

Abstract

The study has been taken up to compare the effect of treatment with pentoxifylline and typical treatment in early ischaemic stroke. The study included 107 patients aged 42-85, with the ischaemic stroke confirmed by CT scan, in early stage of stroke (within 24 hours after onset). Excluded from the study were patients with severe physical diseases. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I was treated typically, group II had been profited from a typical, appropriate therapy and pentoxifylline delivery during 30 days as well, with a daily dose of 1200 mg i.v. within the first 5 days followed by an oral dose of 800 mg subsequent days. Such a treatment has been continued until 12th month. The neurological state was assessed according to the European Stroke Scale (ESS) and Mathew Scale (MS), general fitness according to the Kamofsky Scale (KS) and Barthel Index (IB) at the admission, after 30 days and 12 months of the treatment. Quality of life assessment using by Oxford Handicap Scale and Frenchay Activities Index. After 30 days and 12 months of the treatment, no statistically significant differences between all study groups was found in: 1) mortality, 2) mean survival time, 3) neurological and functional state, 4) quality of life. According to the above results the beneficial influence of pentoxifylline treatment of ischaemic stroke was not confirmed.