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Leg ulcer - venous - Management
Are there any other drug treatments available?
- Oral pentoxifylline should only be used after seeking specialist advice.
- Pentoxifylline has been shown to reduce the healing time of venous leg ulcers [Enoch et al, 2006]. One systematic review of 12 randomized controlled trials (n = 864) suggests that pentoxifylline is more effective than placebo in reducing time to complete healing or significant improvement. Pentoxifylline plus compression is more effective than placebo plus compression, and pentoxifylline in the absence of compression appears to be more effective than placebo or no treatment.
- There is no evidence that other drugs such as aspirin, oral zinc sulfate, or oxerutins increase the healing time of venous leg ulcers [NHS CRD, 1997; Simon et al, 2004; RCN, 2006; SIGN, 2010].
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