Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sildenafil lowers lung blood pressure in dogs with pulmonary
By Brown, A J et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2010·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical efficacy of sildenafil in treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 13 dogs diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were given either sildenafil, a medication that helps improve blood flow, or a placebo for four weeks. The dogs that received sildenafil showed lower blood pressure in their lungs and were able to exercise more than those on the placebo. Their quality of life also improved significantly. This suggests that sildenafil can be an effective treatment for dogs suffering from PAH, helping them feel better and be more active.
People also search for: dog pulmonary arterial hypertension treatment · sildenafil for dogs · improving dog exercise capacity · dog heart medication · quality of life in dogs with PAH
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in dogs carries a poor prognosis. Sildenafil increases exercise capacity and improves hemodynamics in people with PAH. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Dogs receiving sildenafil will have lower pulmonary arterial pressure, increased exercise capacity, and better quality of life (QOL) than dogs receiving placebo. ANIMALS: Thirteen dogs with echocardiographic evidence of PAH. METHODS: Prospective short-term, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, crossover study. Dogs with PAH were randomly allocated to receive sildenafil or placebo for 4 weeks, followed by the alternative treatment for 4 weeks. RESULTS: Dogs receiving sildenafil had a significantly lower estimated pulmonary arterial pressure (median, 56 mmHg; range, 34-83 mmHg) than at baseline (median, 72 mmHg; range, 61-86 mmHg; P=.018), but not significantly lower than those receiving placebo (median, 62 mmHg; range, 49-197 mmHg). Exercise capacity was significantly greater in dogs receiving sildenafil than those receiving placebo (mean activity count per minute: 101+/-47 versus 74+/-32; P=.05). QOL scores were significantly higher in dogs receiving sildenafil than dogs receiving placebo. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Sildenafil decreases systolic pulmonary arterial pressure from baseline in dogs with PAH and is associated with increased exercise capacity and QOL when compared to treatment with placebo.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20412435/