The biology of fibrinogen. The role of pentoxifylline

: Recent epidemiological studies have shown that an increase in fibrinogen level (even a slight increase) is an important risk factor for vascular disease. Consequently, drugs which induce a decrease in fibrinogen are of great importance. Pentoxifylline given in patients with vascular disease or in those with high risk of thrombosis (diabetes, arteritis) induces a significant decrease in plasma fibrinogen level. Furthermore, in patients with arteritis, the decrease in fibrinogen level after pentoxifylline is correlated with the improvement in the walking distance. Several hypotheses may be taken into account to explain the decrease in fibrinogen induced by pentoxifylline. The hypothesis based upon a decrease of fibrinogen synthesis seems very fascinating since pentoxifylline, inducing a decrease in Interleukin 1 activity on leukocytes, might be responsible also for a decrease in interleukin 1 activity as fibrinogen stimulating factor. Furthermore, the effect of pentoxifylline on fibrinolysis, reported by some authors, is also of importance for the prevention of thrombotic disorder.