Pentoxifylline (Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Drug): Effective Adjuvant Therapy in the Control of Ocular Cicatricial Pemphigoid

Abstract

The significantly increased level of serum TNF-a in OCP as compared to controls proves that TNF-a has an important role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The study illustrates that the addition of pentoxifylline to pulse steroid cyclophosphamide therapy is an effective, safe, and economical method in controlling OCP through directly reducing TNF-a levels, with long periods of remission as detected in our 18-month follow-up period.