Long-Term Use of Sildenafil in the Therapeutic Management of Heart Failure

ObjectivesThis study sought to test the functional exercise capacity and endothelial function in a cohort of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients treated with chronic type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) inhibitor.BackgroundIn CHF, endothelial dysfunction is involved in muscle underperfusion, ergoreflex oversignaling, and exercise ventilation inefficiency. Inhibition of PDE5by improving endothelial dysfunction might be beneficial.MethodsStable CHF patients were randomly assigned to placebo (23 patients) or sildenafil at the dose of 50 mg twice per day (23 patients) in addition to their current drug treatment for 6 months, with assessments (at 3 and 6 months) of endothelial function by brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and ergoreflex response.ResultsIn the sildenafil group only, at 3 and 6 months we observed reduction of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (from 33.7 to 25.2 mm Hg and 23.9 mm Hg), ergoreflex effect on ventilation (from 6.9 to 2.3 l·min−1and 1.9 l·min−1), ventilation to CO2production slope (VE/Vco2, from 35.5 to 32.1 and 29.8), and breathlessness (score) (from 23.6 to 16.6 and 17.2), and an increase of FMD (from 8.5% to 13.4% and 14.2%), peak Vo2(from 14.8 to 18.5 ml·min−1·kg−1and 18.7 ml·min−1·kg−1), and ratio of Vo2to work rate changes (from 7.7 to 9.3 and 10.1). All changes were significant at p < 0.01. In the sildenafil group, a significant correlation was found at 3 and 6 months between changes in FMD and those in ergoreflex. Changes in ergoreflex correlated with those in peak Vo2and VE/Vco2slope. No adverse effects were noted except for flushing in 3 patients.ConclusionsIn CHF, improvement in exercise ventilation and aerobic efficiency with sildenafil is sustained and is significantly related with an endothelium-mediated attenuation of exercising muscle oversignaling. Chronic sildenafil seems to be a remedy based on CHF pathophysiology and devoid of remarkable adverse effects.