title: Improvement of exercise capacity in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension by the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor Vardenafil.
abstract: Vardenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, is approved for the therapy of erectile dysfunction. However, in contrast to Sildenafil and Tadalafil, little is known about its effects on pulmonary hypertension. Four weeks after monocrotaline-administration rats exhibited a significant increase in right ventricular pressure (RVSP, 94mmHg vs. 25mmHg; p=0.001) right ventricular weight (right ventricle/left ventricle+septum, 59 vs. 23; p=0.001) and pulmonary vascular remodeling (medial wall area 104% vs. 66%; p<0.05) as compared to controls, with a corresponding reduction in exercise capacity (% from baseline value: 67%; p<0.05). Vardenafil treatment resulted in decreased RVSP (56mmHg vs. 95mmHg; p=0.008), right ventricular weight (41 vs. 59; p=0.013), pulmonary vascular remodeling (medial wall area 64% vs. 104%; p<0.05) and a significant better exercise capacity (% from baseline value: 84% vs. 67%; p<0.05) compared to monocrotaline only treated animals. In conclusion, Vardenafil exerts beneficial effects on monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats. Whether it is a treatment option for patients with pulmonary hypertension needs to be elucidated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine II, Pneumology, University Hospital Regensburg, Germany. stephan.schroll@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schroll
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sebah
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Popara
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pfeifer
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Blumberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016686:Monocrotaline / Q000633:toxicity; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology; D014227:Triazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D016686:Monocrotaline