Pentoxifylline as an Adjuvant Therapy in the Treatment of Pediatric Pneumonia; A New Perspective of an Old Drug

Summary

Pentoxifylline is a xanthine-derived, commercially produced drug approved for the management of intermittent claudication in patients suffering from a chronic occlusive arterial disease of the limbs. Pentoxifylline has been documented to display anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects, as well as some antithrombotic and antiviral effects. This drug has also been shown to reduce lung fibrosis in patients with COVID-19, as well as to prevent thromboembolic events. This work aims to assess the benefit of oral Pentoxifyllin supplementation, in addition to standard antibiotic and other supportive therapy, in the management of hospitalized children with community-acquired pneumonia

Timeline

Start

2024-03-01

Primary completion

2024-08-31

Completion

2025-06-01

Publications

• Elmeazawy R, AbdElsamea MZ, Barakat A, El Sharaby R, El-Moazen AMF, Hamza M, Toema O. Oral pentoxifylline as a novel adjunct to standard therapy in pediatric community-acquired pneumonia: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatr Res. 2026 May 5. doi: 10.1038/s41390-026-04997-3. Online ahead of print.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.