Ticlopidine—Pentoxifylline Combination in the Treatment of Atherosclerosis and the Prevention of Cerebrovascular Accidents

Abstract

This randomized, double-blind study on 79 patients reported the efficacy of ticlopidine-pentoxifylline combination in the treatment of atherosclerosis and the prevention of cerebrovascular accidents. Comparisons were made with aspirin-dipyridamole-buflomedil and buflomedil-placebo combinations as controls. Global symptoms, sensorimotor disorders and vertigo were improved in all treatment groups, although improvement tended to be more pronounced with ticlopidine-pentoxifylline. None of the groups showed any change in stenosis or vessel wall rigidity although ticlopidine-pentoxifylline reduced flow irregularity. This combination therapy also normalized the direction of flow in the ophthalmic artery in 46.2% of patients with retrograde flow prior to treatment, compared with 30.0% following aspirin-dipyridamole-buflomedil and 28.6% following buflomedil-placebo administration. Significantly fewer cerebrovascular accidents occurred after treatment with ticlopidine-pentoxifylline. In conclusion, ticlopidine-pentoxifylline showed good therapeutic efficacy against atherosclerosis and a preventative effect against new cerebrovascular accidents. This therapy was well tolerated.