title: Acute effects of sildenafil on flow mediated dilatation and cardiovascular autonomic nerve function in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sildenafil, frequently used as on demand medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), has been suggested to improve endothelial function but also to alter blood pressure (BP) and induce sympathetic activation. In people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a high-risk population, the safety profile and the effects on endothelial function of a maximal sildenafil dose (100 mg) have not been investigated and therefore constituted the aim of our study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial using a single dose of 100 mg sildenafil or placebo has been conducted in 40 subjects with T2DM without known CVD. Haemodynamic parameters, flow mediated dilatation (FMD) in brachial artery, cardiovascular autonomic function tests and spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty minutes after administration of sildenafil but not placebo, a fall of supine systolic blood pressure (SBP) (-5.41 +/- 1.87 vs. + 0.54 +/- 1.71 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (-4.46 +/- 1.13 vs. + 0.89 +/- 0.94 mmHg), as well as orthostatic SBP (-7.41 +/- 2.35 vs. + 0.94 +/- 2.06 mmHg) and DBP (-5.65 +/- 1.45 vs. + 1.76 +/- 1.00 mmHg) during standing occurred, accompanied by an increase in heart rate (+1.98 +/- 0.69 vs. - 2.42 +/- 0.59 beats/min) (all p < 0.01 vs. placebo). Changes in BP to standing up, FMD, time domain and frequency domain indices of heart rate variability (HRV) and BRS were comparable between sildenafil and placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sildenafil administered at a maximum single dose to T2DM men results in a mild increase in heart rate and decrease in BP, but it induces neither an acute improvement of FMD nor any adverse effects on orthostatic BP regulation, HRV and BRS.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Clinic, Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany. astirban@hdz-nrw.de
authors.forename: Alin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stirban
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laude
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Elghozi
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: Marcus W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Agelink
authors.forename: Max J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hilz
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000294:innervation*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011187:Posture; D011674:Pulse; D011687:Purines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D010919:Placebos; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate