Pulmonary Hypertension is commonly known as high blood pressure in the lungs, and is caused by diseases that narrow the blood vessels in the lungs. It causes shortness of breath, loss of energy, limits extertion, and causes decline and failure of the right ventricle in the heart.
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This disease is often fatal, since it causes additional strain on the heart and can lead to heart attacks. When the heart fails, the lungs fail to provide enough oxygen to the rest of the body. The method of treating this disease is to widen the blood vessels in the lungs and making it easier for the heart to pump blood through these vessels.
One way to accomplish the widening of blood vessels is to inhale a mist called iloprost, which is a form of epoprostenol. However, its effects last for about 60 minutes so numerous inhalations are required throughout the day. Sildenafil was tested to learn if it could prolong the effects of iloprost.
Another treatment for pulmonary hypertension is a continuous inhalation of nitric oxide gas, which also widens blood vessels in the lungs.
In a study group, thirty patients with severe pulmonary hypertension volunteered to participate. The blood pressure and blood flow in the lungs were measured during treatments at 3 hour intervals.
All patients first received an inhalation of nitric oxide. They were then divided into four groups. The first group received a low dose of sildenafil, the second had a low dose of sildenafil followed by inhaled iloprost, the third received a high dose of sildenafil, and the fourth group received a high dose of sildenafil followed by inhaled iloprost.
The researchers discovered that the most effective treatment for severe pulmonary hypertension was a high dose of sildenafil followed by inhaled iloprost. The next most effective treatment was a low dose of sildenafil followed by inhaled iloprost. Thus, a combination of therapies was most effective, and the patients suffered no serious negative side effects from the treatments.
The usefulness of the results of this study were limited due to the low number of participants and the short time span of the test. However, it has shown that sildenafil may help to control this fatal disease when combined with other treatments.
Sildenafil has few side effects, is easy to administer, and is relatively inexpensive in comparison to alternative treatments.