Sildenafil citrate decreased natural killer cell activity and enhanced chance of successful pregnancy in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of sildenafil on peripheral natural killer (NK) cell activity in women with a history of recurrent miscarriage (RM).


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Thirty-eight nonpregnant women with a history of RM and 37 healthy women with previous successful pregnancy outcomes.


METHODS
Patients self-administered sildenafil suppositories (25 mg intravaginally, four times a day) for 36 days.


METHODS
Peripheral blood NK-cell activity before and after vaginal sildenafil therapy in the RM women was measured using flow cytometry. In addition, the influence of 10 microg and 400 ng sildenafil on NK-cell activity after in vitro culture were determined. Uterine artery blood flow and endometrial thickness were recorded using Doppler ultrasound with an intravaginal probe.


RESULTS
The NK-cell activity was significantly decreased after vaginal sildenafil therapy. Endometrial thickness was significantly increased after such therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaginal sildenafil might be an interesting therapeutic option before conception in women with histories of reproductive failure.
Jerzak
Malgorzata
M
Department of Gynecology and Gynecologic Oncology, Military Institute of Health Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.
Kniotek
Monika
M
Mrozek
Jaroslaw
J
Górski
Andrzej
A
Baranowski
Wlodzimierz
W
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004717:Endometrium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005300:Fertility Agents, Female / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects*; D050498:Live Birth; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013488:Suppositories; D017211:Treatment Failure; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*
D005300:Fertility Agents, Female; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D013488:Suppositories; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate