title: Ventilatory efficiency and dyspnea on exertion improvements are related to reduced pulmonary pressure in heart failure patients receiving Sildenafil.
abstract: Chronic phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition improves peak oxygen consumption, ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO(2) slope) and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in heart failure (HF). In 40 male patients, Sildenafil treatment produced a significant (p<0.001) decrease in dyspnea upon exertion (DOE) at maximal exercise. The correlations between the change in systolic PAP and both the change in the VE/VCO(2) slope (r=0.57, p<0.001) and DOE at maximal exercise (r(s)=0.49, p<0.001) were significant. DOE at maximal exercise is significantly reduced and the degree of improvement in PAP is reflected by the degree of improvement in the VE/VCO(2) slope and DOE following Sildenafil therapy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guazzi
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Peberdy
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bensimhon
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chase
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arena