Pulmonary embolism after tadalafil ingestion.
Tadalafil is a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor that is used to treat male erectile dysfunction. It is currently undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Although at present there is no evidence of hypercoagulation states being associated with the use of PDE5 inhibitors, several studies suggest that PDE5 inhibitors may, in rare cases, cause arterial and venous thrombotic or embolic events in the heart, eye, brain, and ear. We report a 54-year-old male patient with reduced plasma levels of protein C who developed pulmonary embolism (PE) just after he started taking tadalafil. The Naranjo probability scale indicates tadalafil as the possible cause of a PE in our patient. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of tadalafil-induced PE in the literature.
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, #482, San-ming Road, Kaohsiung 812, Taiwan, ROC. chenhuangchi@gmail.com
Huang-Chi
HC
Chen
Chuan-Sheng
CS
Wang
Shu-Hui
SH
Chuang
Cheng-Yuan
CY
Wang
D002243:Carbolines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011486:Protein C / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000068581:Tadalafil
D002243:Carbolines; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D011486:Protein C; D000068581:Tadalafil