Role of pentoxifylline, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, in reducing mortality associated with neonatal sepsis is not well studied.~Hypothesis: we hypothesized that Pentoxifylline has potent anti-inflammatory effect which can augment the antimicrobial effect of antibiotics in treatment of Late onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants thus decreasing neonatal mortality and morbidity.~Purpose of the study: to assess the efficacy and safety of Pentoxifylline as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy on mortality and morbidity of preterm infants with LOS.~Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.~Setting: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Mansoura University Children's Hospital.~Patients: 120 preterm infants with suspected or confirmed LOS.~Intervention: Enrolled infants were randomly assigned to receive intravenous Pentoxifylline (5 mg/kg/hr for 6 hours on 6 successive days) or placebo in addition to antibiotics.~Primary outcome: Death before hospital discharge.~Secondary outcomes: Length of hospital stay, duration of respiratory support, duration of antibiotics use, chronic lung disease, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity, Serum levels of Tumor necrosis factor, C-Reactive protein levels, and adverse effects of Pentoxifylline.
Hypothesis: The investigators hypothesized that Pentoxifylline has potent anti-inflammatory effect which can augment the antimicrobial effect of antibiotics in treatment of Late onset sepsis (LOS) in preterm infants thus decreasing neonatal mortality and morbidity.~The purpose of this study: to assess the efficacy and safety of Pentoxifylline as an adjunct to antibiotic therapy on mortality and morbidity of preterm infants with LOS.