EFFECT OF PENTOXIFYLLINE AS AN IMMUNOMODULATING AGENT IN THE TREAAND BACTERIAL CLEARANCE IN NEONATES AND EXPERIMENTAL ANIMALSTMENT OF SEPSIS

Abstract

One of the most common causes of death in neonates requiring intensive care is sepsis of bacterial origin. During the inflammatory reactions, activation and stimulation of various cascade systems induce the release of cytokines including tumor necrosis factor (TNFa.) that causes tissue damage leading to hyper-inflammatory reaction and multiple organ failure. Various therapeutic strategies have been investigated to control this hyper-inflammatory reaction including pentoxifylline, which is a methylxathine derivative and was reported to suppress the release of TNFa. in humans and experimental animals.

The mm of this study was to evaluate the effect of pentoxifylline experimentally on the severity of bacterial infection and its colonization in the liver and serum TNFa. in mice. Also, its effect on the clinical course and serum TNFa. in neonates with sepsis.

In the experimental study, 140 white albino mice were divided into

5 groups, 28 mice for each group:

- Group I was uninfected untreated and used as a control.

- Group II was infected by intraperitoneal injection of 0.1 ml standardized suspension of Klebsiella and untreated, received 0.1 ml saline as placebo. -Group III was infected and treated with cefotaxim IS mglkg intraperitoreally at time of infection.