Abstract
Background: Cardiotoxicity is a life-threatening adverse effect of adriamycin and limits its clinical uses.
Aim: This study is aimed to investigate the protective effect of pentoxifylline against cardiotoxicity induced by adriamycin.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four healthy rabbits were equally divided into three groups and were distributed into control group, adriamycin group and pentoxifylline group. Both the first and second groups were received normal saline (2mL/kg IP.), while the third group received pentoxifylline (100 mg/kg IP.) for fourteen consecutive days. All animals (except animals of control group) were given adriamycin (5 mg/kg IP.) at the 1st, 5th,9th and 13th days of experiment for induction of cardiotoxicity. On the last day of the experiment, blood samples and heart tissues were collected from all animals for biochemical analysis and histopathological examination.
Results: Adriamycin induced cardiotoxicity manifested by a significant elevation of serum CK-MB and LDH levels, besides significant elevation in cardiac homogenate levels of MDA, TNF-α and IL-6 with a reduction in GSH level which was further confirmed by histological changes. Pentoxifylline significantly restoring the biochemical and histological abnormalities.
Conclusion: Pentoxifylline has a potent cardioprotective effect and can be used as an adjuvant therapy to abrogate cardiotoxicity of adriamycin and extend its clinical uses.