Erectile dysfunction drug can benefit heart disease patients

19 Nov 2009 - Posted by the Editorial Team

A drug used for men with erectile dysfunction has been found to improve heart function in individuals with single-ventricle congenital heart disease.

Researchers at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, US, said that heart function is "significantly improved" in both children and young adults with the disease who have had the Fontan operation after treatment with sildenafil, which is also used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

Examples of single-ventricle defects include tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum and hypoplastic left heart syndrome, all of which adversely affect the heart's ability to pump blood.

It is believed that sildenafil may boost cardiac performance by directly improving the squeeze of the heart muscle and allowing for better filling of the heart.

Paediatric cardiologist Dr David Goldberg concluded: "The enhanced heart performance may improve exercise performance and quality of life in these children and young adults."

Sildenafil was developed by Pfizer and is sold under various brand names including Viagra and Revatio.

It became available in 1998 and is now the prime treatment for erectile dysfunction.

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