Evaluation of the effects of sildenafil citrate (viagra) on vertebral artery blood flow in patients with vertebro-basilar insufficiency.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on the vertebral artery blood flow of patients with vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI) using color duplex sonography (CDS).


METHODS
The study included 21 patients with VBI (aged 31-76; mean 61.0 +/- 10.5 yrs). We administered a 50 mg oral dose of sildenafil citrate to all patients. Next, we measured the peak systolic velocity (Vmax), end diastolic velocity (Vmin), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), diameter, area, and flow volume (FV) of vertebral arteries using CDS before the administration of sildenafil citrate; 45 minutes after, and 75 minutes after administration. Statistical testing was performed using SPSS for windows version 11.0. The statistical test used to determine the outcome of the analysis was the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test.


RESULTS
Compared to the baseline values, the vertebral artery diameter, area, and FV increased significantly following the administration of sildenafil citrate. The diameter, area and FV increased from 3.39 mm at 45 minutes to 3.64 mm at 75 minutes, 9.43 cm(2) to 10.80 cm(2) at 45 minutes and 10.81 cm(2) at 75 minutes, as well as from 0.07 L/min at baseline to 0.09 L/min at 45 minutes and unchanged at 75 minutes, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Sildenafil citrate elicited a significant effect on vertebral artery diameter, area and FVs.
Bozgeyik
Zulkif
Z
Firat University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Elazig, Turkey. bozgeyik4@hotmail.com
Berilgen
Sait
S
Ozdemir
Huseyin
H
Tekatas
Aslan
A
Ogur
Erkin
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D011687:Purines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014711:Vertebral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*
D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate