title: Sildenafil in the treatment of pressure ulcer: a randomised clinical trial.
abstract: Pressure ulcer (PrU)-related hospitalisation and mortality are critical issues in medical and surgical patients. Although animal studies have suggested the beneficial effects of sildenafil on wound healing, related clinical data are lacking. This is the first clinical study that has evaluated the effects of topical sildenafil on PrU healing in human subjects. Enrolled patients were randomly allocated to receive topical sildenafil (10%) ointment or placebo daily. Wound healing was assessed visually and photographically by the change in wound score according to two-digit Stirling scale. Decreases in grades of the PrUs were significantly higher in sildenafil group compared with placebo group (P < 0·001). In addition, surface areas of ulcers in sildenafil group were significantly reduced compared to the control group at day 14 of intervention (P = 0·007). It appears that these effects may be mediated by improvement of microvascular reperfusion in the skin and soft tissue. Further study to emphasise the role of topical sildenafil in the prevention or treatment of PrUs in hospitalised patients is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farsaei
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Khalili
authors.forename: Effat S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Farboud
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khazaeipour
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003422:Critical Care; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011687:Purines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate
keywords: Healing; Pressure ulcer; Sildenafil