Oral tadalafil helps treat pulmonary hypertension in a dog

Abstract

Systolic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was diagnosed in a 15-year-old intact male Yorkshire terrier presented for progressive dyspnoea and coughing. Several examinations were performed (thoracic radiographs, faecal analysis, heartworm antigen test, tracheal fluoroscopy, abdominal ultrasound, complete blood cell count, urine and serum biochemistry) but the PAH remained of unknown origin. Despite medical treatment (diuretics and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor), cardiovascular and respiratory signs dramatically worsened over a 1-month period, with several daily syncope, cyanosis and tachypnoea at rest requiring permanent oxygen therapy. Oral tadalafil (Cialis), a new long-acting phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, belonging to the same family as sildenafil (Viagra), was added to the background therapy. The condition of the dog improved quickly (< 24 h), and short-term follow up (7 days) showed a decrease in systolic pulmonary arterial pressure up to 26 mmHg concomitant with the disappearance of all respiratory and cardiac signs of PAH (cyanosis, syncope and tachypnoea). This case is of interest because it concerns the first reported short-term use of tadalafil in canine PAH. However, long-term studies with a large number of diseased animals are now required before prescription by general practitioners could be recommended.