title: Sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart diseases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral Sildenafil for treatment of pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart diseases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients with un-repaired congenital heart diseases resulting in significant pulmonary hypertension were enrolled in a prospective trial of oral Sildenafil treatment for 12 weeks. The outcomes measured were change in the systemic oxygen saturations, 6-minute walk test distance, and New York Heart Association class. The systemic blood pressure and visual symptoms were monitored for evaluating the tolerability of Sildenafil. The mean age was 25.7+/-14.4 years. The mean pulmonary vascular resistance before treatment was 17.4 Wood units. After 12 weeks of sildenafil, an increase in oxygen saturations (87.8+/-5.3%-90.25+/-4%, p=0.04) with an associated increase of one New York Heart Association class (p=0.009) was noted. A non-statistically significant increase in the 6-minute walk test distance (310.33+/-42-333.75+/-54.6 meters, p=0.47) was also noted. Sildenafil was well-tolerated with no significant change in systemic blood pressure or visual side-effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral Sildenafil is well-tolerated and produces some improvement in the oxygenation and functional status of patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart diseases.
authors.affiliation: King Edward Memorial Hospital-Cardiovascular & Thoracic Center, Mumbai, India. doctoranuja@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Anuja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Prafulla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kerkar
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate