This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Pentoxifylline on correction of anaemia of chronic diseases in systemic lupus erythematosus. Seventy patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and anaemia aged 28.9 ± 5.6 were studied in 2013 in a clinical trial. Sampling method was random permutation blocks in two groups of control and intervention patients. Intervention group received pentoxifylline; after 4 months, haemoglobin, iron and TNFα profiles of the two groups were compared. Data were analysed using T-test. The results showed that the haemoglobin increased by 0.2mg/dl in the intervention group and 0.26mg/dl in the control group, which was statistically insignificant. Changes in ferritin, serum iron and serum iron/TIBC were respectively -3.6±58.4μg/dl, 1.6±28.8μg/dl and 0.02±1.0μg/dl in the Pentoxifylline group and 2.0±59.1μg/dl, 0.6±28.5μg/dl and 0.01±0.1μg/dl in the placebo group. TNFα changes were -1.5±8.8pg/dl in the Pentoxifylline group and 0.2±4.0pg/dl in the placebo group, which was not statistically significant. Therefore, receiving Pentoxifylline in anaemic patients with SLE have no effect on haemoglobin levels and iron profiles of these patients.
