Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39446164›Full record

SynthesisInflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.]2024

Pentoxifylline in COVID-19 and considerations for its research in long COVID.

Ahmed Ramzi, Subhia Maya, Nadeen Balousha, Mufreh Amin, Mostafa Ramzi Shiha

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Inflammation research : official journal of the European Histamine Research Society ... [et al.], 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pentoxifylline uses in inner ear diseases.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ahmed RamziFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-1737-8235
Subhia MayaFaculty of Medicine, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0649-7049
Nadeen BaloushaFaculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4210-3089
Mufreh AminFaculty of Medicine, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8882-5116
Mostafa Ramzi ShihaFaculty of Urban and Regional Planning, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt. Ramzy_220202@stud.furp.cu.edu.eg.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0001-4785-2273

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPentoxifylline (PTX) affects most blood components and the blood vessels, potentially modulating various conditions. Due to its impact on markers linked to COVID-19 severity, research has explored PTX for acute COVID-19. Following the widespread administration of COVID-19 vaccinations, there has been a notable and consistently growing increase in research focusing on long COVID. Consequently, our examination of relevant acute COVID-19 data shall additionally be contextualized into long COVID research.

methodsVarious Databases were searched until July 2024 for all primary clinical studies on Pentoxifylline (PTX) in COVID-19.

resultsStudies were on acute infection with SARS-CoV-2 where PTX was an adjuvant to standard therapy for ethical and practical reasons under the circumstance. PTX generally reduced hospitalization duration and improved some inflammatory markers, but its impact on mortality was inconsistent. Adverse events were minimal. Meta-analysis revealed a significant reduction in hospitalization duration.

conclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that adding pentoxifylline (PTX) to standard COVID-19 therapy may significantly reduce hospitalization duration and improve some inflammatory markers. However, its impact on mortality rates is inconclusive. Adverse events are minimal. PTX can be favorable as an add-on in managing acute COVID-19 and could reduce the risk of long COVID, as well as assist in managing many of its most common symptoms.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 Drug TreatmentPentoxifyllineHumansLength of StaySARS-CoV-2PentoxifyllineCOVID-19HospitalizationLong COVIDMeta-AnalysisPentoxifyllineSystematic Review

Identifiers

PMID39446164
PMCPMC11632036

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.