JAHA: 'Viagra' found to have potentially deadly side effects, promote worsening abdominal aneurysm

Sildenafil (Slidenafil), commonly known as "Viagra", was developed by Pfizer in the United States and was initially studied as a 5-phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibitor for the treatment of cardiovascular disease
.

It is now widely used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension

Sildenafil

In December 2021, Cheng Feixiong's team from the Cleveland Medical Center published a research paper in Nature Aging and found that the use of sildenafil was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's disease, indicating that the old drug of sildenafil is used or treated.
An option for Alzheimer's disease
.

Details: Nature sub-issue: "Viagra" adds a heavy effect, or can prevent Alzheimer's disease

The study attracted widespread attention when it was published
.

However, a new study has reminded us that the use of sildenafil may also lead to a fatal risk - worsening abdominal aortic aneurysm

On January 5, 2022, Yan Chen et al.
from the University of Rochester, USA, published a research paper titled: Sildenafil (Viagra) Aggravates the Development of Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA)
.

On January 5, 2022, Yan Chen et al.
from the University of Rochester, USA, published a research paper titled: Sildenafil (Viagra) Aggravates the Development of Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA)
.

The study showed that the drug sildenafil, commonly known as Viagra, used to treat pulmonary hypertension and erectile dysfunction, made abdominal aortic aneurysms worse
.

Sildenafil (Slidenafil), commonly known as "Viagra", was developed by Pfizer in the United States and was initially studied as a 5-phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibitor for the treatment of cardiovascular disease
.

However, it did not achieve the researchers' expectations of dilating blood vessels and alleviating cardiovascular disease

But the researchers found that the volunteers who participated in the study were reluctant to return the remaining drugs.
When pressed, the volunteers said that the drug improved their sex life
.

The researchers at Pfizer then changed direction and started a study on the effect of sildenafil on the smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum

The aorta is composed of three layers, the middle layer is composed of vascular smooth muscle cells
.

These cells are responsible for regulating blood vessel tone and allowing the aorta to constrict and relax, thereby regulating blood flow

5-phosphodiesterase (PDE5) is an important enzyme in the body that has the ability to regulate the contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells
.

Drugs such as sildenafil are PDE5 inhibitors and work by inhibiting PDE5

There have been previous clinical reports of aortic dissection in some people using PDE5 inhibitor drugs such as sildenafil
.

This suggests that inhibition of PDE5 may be associated with aortic risk

Abdominal aortic aneurysm, where part of the abdominal aorta becomes weak or bulged for various reasons
.
A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is a medical emergency, and only about 20 percent of patients survive when it occurs
.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are more common in older men, especially those with emphysema, family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, and obesity
.
Older men are the main users of sildenafil
.
Therefore, the research team wanted to investigate whether inhibition of PDE5 with sildenafil could affect the progression of abdominal aortic aneurysms
.

The research team conducted experiments on mice.
First, the research team surgically induced abdominal aortic aneurysms in mice and monitored the size of their aortas.
Seven days after the operation, these mice developed abdominal aortic aneurysms
.
The mice were then randomized into two groups, one receiving daily doses of 60-100 mg/kg/day of sildenafil dissolved in water, and one drinking water without sildenafil
.
The whole experiment lasted for 4 weeks, and the changes in the size of abdominal aortic aneurysms of the two groups of mice were observed
.

The experimental results showed that compared with mice that did not take sildenafil, the abdominal aortic aneurysm of mice that took sildenafil for 4 weeks was larger, and the average width increased by 37%; and the elastic fibers in abdominal aortic aneurysm The degree of degradation or weakening increased by 50%
.

Compared with mice that did not receive sildenafil, mice that received sildenafil for 4 weeks had larger abdominal aortic aneurysms, with a mean increase in width of 37%; and degeneration or weakening of elastic fibers in abdominal aortic aneurysms Level increased by 50%

These findings suggest that sildenafil exacerbates abdominal aortic aneurysm progression, possibly by disrupting smooth muscle cells' ability to contract and function properly
.

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are more common in older men, which is highly coincident with the main users of sildenafil
.
This study suggests that sildenafil should be used with caution in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm or in high-risk groups
.
The research team also said that further research is needed to determine that human use also carries this risk
.

Original source:

Original source:

Chongyang Zhang, Amy Mohan, Hangchuan Shi, et al.
Sildenafil (Viagra) Aggravates the Development of Experimental Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm .
Journal of the American Heart Association.
2022.

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