Pharmacology of pentoxifylline, a hemorheologic agent for the treatment of intermittent claudication.

Physiological and pathophysiological aspects of systemic and cardiac haemodynamics are reviewed with appraisal of Carl J. Wiggers merits and contributions to the research and developments in this field and his early recognition of the significance of the flow properties of blood in impaired circulation. Pharmacological agents involved in treatment of peripheral vascular diseases are discussed with special regard to the haemorheologically active xanthine derivative pentoxifylline.