Vascular dementia Italian sulodexide study (VADISS) - Clinical and biological results

In order to evaluate the biological effects on some haemostasis factors of antithrombotic-hemorheological treatments on patients with vascular dementia, a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, study comparing sulodexide (Sdx, 50 mg bid orally for 6 months) and pentoxifylline (Ptx, 400 mg tid orally for six months) was carried out. Eighty-six patients, 46 in Sdx group, 40 in Ptx group, fulfilling the NINDS-AIREN criteria for probable vascular dementia were evaluated. Plasma fibrinogen levels showed a significant reduction in both groups, in patients with high basal levels (greater than or equal to 350 mg/dl), the reduction being earlier in Sdx group (2nd month of therapy) than in Ptx group (4th month of therapy). In Sdx group a significant reduction in factor VII-Ag (baseline 102.8 U/dl; 6th month 90.1 U/dl) was also observed. Both drugs induced a slight reduction in activated factor VII levels as well. A parallel improvement of G.B.S. Rating Scale for dementia scores was observed in Sdx group. These results seem to indicate that sulodexide treatment can have positive effects in vascular dementia. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.