European pentoxifylline multi-infarct dementia study.

Investigated whether pentoxifylline can improve inellctual performance or delay the progression of mental deterioration in patients with multi-infarct dementia (MID) according to %DSM-III-R% criteria in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicentre study. 239 patients (aged 45–90 yrs) with a Hachinski Ischemia Scale score ≥7, a Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 10–25 at entry, and CT evidence of vascular disease completed the study. 122 Ss received oral pentoxifylline (1200 mg/day) and 117 received placebo for 9 mo. Efficacy was assessed every 3 mo. The primary outcome variable was the difference in scores between the 2 treatment groups, as measured on the Gottfries, Bråne, Steen (GBS) scale. Secondary outcome variables included the scores on the Sandoz Clinical Assessment Geriatric (SCAG) scale, MMSE, and a battery of psychological and other tests. Results show a statistically significant difference in the total GBS score in favour of pentoxifylline. It is concluded that treatment with pentoxifylline is beneficial for patients with MID, the global results of the GE and SCAG scales being reinforced by significant improvements in those sub scales specific for intellectual and cognitive function. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)