Abstracts of the 2025 Annual Meeting of the ALEH
More infoThe COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected patients with comorbidities, especially those with steatohepatitis, increasing mortality in these groups. Pentoxifylline, a drug with anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, has been proposed as a therapeutic option to improve outcomes in these patients.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of pentoxifylline in the management of patients with COVID-19 and chronic liver disease, specifically those with steatohepatitis.
Patients and MethodsA retrospective observational study was conducted in the Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department of the ISSSTE Hospital from September 2020 to February 2022. Seventy-one patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 were included, 24 of whom had a previous diagnosis of steatohepatitis, diagnosed through biochemical and imaging studies (ultrasound and FibroScan). Pentoxifylline was administered at 400 mg every 12 hours, along with antipyretics and oxygen support as needed. Biochemical parameters and clinical manifestations were assessed at baseline and at 8 weeks.
Results24 patients: 17 female (67%), 8 male (33%); mean age: 53.5 years. Patients with steatohepatitis showed significant improvement in biochemical parameters after treatment: C-reactive protein decreased from 33.32 to 16.9 mg/L (p<0.0001), and oxygen saturation increased from 86% to 92% (p<0.008). Clinical manifestations, such as cough and fever, also improved, and no significant adverse effects were reported.
ConclusionsPentoxifylline was shown to be an effective and safe treatment in patients with COVID-19 and chronic liver disease, improving clinical and biochemical parameters without significant adverse effects. Multicenter, randomized studies are recommended to confirm its efficacy in larger populations and evaluate its potential in the management of emerging viral diseases.
