TUESDAY, Oct. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Sildenafil (Viagra) can reduce beta-adrenergic-stimulated signaling in the heart by nearly half, according to a study in the Oct. 25 issue of Circulation. The findings suggest the drug may be useful for treatment of diseases such as hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure, although more study is needed, according to the authors.
David A. Kass, M.D., of the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, and colleagues conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of sildenafil pretreatment on beta-adrenergic-stimulated cardiac contractility. Thirty-five healthy volunteers were given two rounds of dobutamine before and after oral sildenafil, and cardiac function was assessed noninvasively by echo Doppler and blood pressure measurements.
In response to a second treatment of dobutamine, peak power, ejection fraction and end-systolic elastance were reduced in the sildenafil group by 32%, 66% and 56%, respectively. Responses to the first and second dobutamine tests were the same for those taking placebo.
The authors reiterate that sildenafil use is safe for both healthy individuals and for some patients with coronary disease or heart failure, and their results should not alter these indications. However, they believe the drug has effects on cardiac function in the context of adrenergic stimulation and may be useful for treatment of diseases such as hypertension.
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