Pentoxifylline as a Potential Adjuvant Therapy for COVID-19: Impeding the Burden of the Cytokine Storm

Wiktoria Feret; Magdalena Nalewajska; Łukasz Wojczyński; Wojciech Witkiewicz; Patrycja Kłos; Violetta Dziedziejko; Andrzej Pawlik

doi:10.3390/jcm10225305

Pentoxifylline as a Potential Adjuvant Therapy for COVID-19: Impeding the Burden of the Cytokine Storm

J Clin Med. 2021 Nov 15;10(22):5305. doi: 10.3390/jcm10225305.

Authors

Wiktoria Feret¹, Magdalena Nalewajska¹, Łukasz Wojczyński¹, Wojciech Witkiewicz², Patrycja Kłos³, Violetta Dziedziejko³, Andrzej Pawlik⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
² Department of Cardiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
³ Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.
⁴ Department of Physiology, Pomeranian Medical University, 70-111 Szczecin, Poland.

Abstract

The outburst of inflammatory response and hypercoagulability are among the factors contributing to increased mortality in severe COVID-19 cases. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a xanthine-derived drug registered for the treatment of vascular claudication, has been reported to display broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties via adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR)-related mechanisms, in parallel to its rheological actions. Prior studies have indicated the efficacy of PTX in the treatment of various pulmonary diseases, including the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome of infectious causes. Therefore, PTX has been proposed to have potential benefits in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms, as well as its complications. The aim of this review is to discuss available knowledge regarding the role of PTX as a complementary therapeutic in SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: ARDS; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; cytokine storm; cytokines; pentoxifylline; pneumonia; pulmonary fibrosis.

Publication types

Review