Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Sildenafil improves heart function in dogs with Eisenmenger's syndrome
By Nakamura, K et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2011·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Japan·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effects of sildenafil citrate on five dogs with Eisenmenger's syndrome.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Five dogs with Eisenmenger's syndrome, a serious heart condition, were treated with sildenafil, a medication that helps improve blood flow. Owners noticed significant improvements in their dogs' heart function and overall well-being after one and three months of treatment. Additionally, the dogs had a decrease in red blood cell levels, which is important because high levels can cause complications. Overall, sildenafil proved to be a beneficial treatment for these dogs, helping them feel better and manage their symptoms more effectively.
People also search for: dog heart problems treatment · sildenafil for dogs · Eisenmenger's syndrome in dogs · dog erythrocytosis symptoms
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of sildenafil for dogs with Eisenmeger's syndrome and secondary erythrocytosis. METHODS: This is a prospective, single arm, open-label study. Five clinical dogs with Eisenmeger's syndrome and secondary erythrocytosis were included. New York Heart Association functional class, packed cell volume, pulmonary artery acceleration time to ejection time ratio and serum erythropoietin concentration were evaluated before and after sildenafil therapy (0·5 mg/kg, twice a day). RESULTS: New York Heart Association functional class was significantly improved after one (median 2; range 1 to 2, P=0·031) and three months (median 2; range 1 to 2, P=0·031) of sildenafil therapy, compared with the baseline (median 3, range 2 to 3). Packed cell volume was significantly decreased after three months (median 59%; range 56 to 63, P=0·031) of therapy, compared with the baseline (median 71%; range 58 to 74). Acceleration time to ejection time ratio had increased and serum erythropoietin concentration had decreased particularly after 1 month of therapy, but there was no statistical significance. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Sildenafil improved the clinical signs and secondary erythrocytosis in dogs with Eisenmeger's syndrome. Sildenafil therapy could be a useful treatment for dogs with Eisenmeger's syndrome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21985577/