Korean J Radiol.  2008 Dec;9(6):477-480. 10.3348/kjr.2008.9.6.477.

Evaluation of the Effects of Sildenafil Citrate (Viagra) on Vertebral Artery Blood Flow in Patients with Vertebro-Basilar Insufficiency

• Bozgeyik Z
• Berilgen S
• Ozdemir H
• Tekatas A
• Ogur E

• KMID: 1118867
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/kjr.2008.9.6.477

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on the vertebral artery blood flow of patients with vertebro-basilar insufficiency (VBI) using color duplex sonography (CDS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 21 patients with VBI (aged 31-76; mean 61.0 +/- 10.5 yrs). We administered a 50 mg oral dose of sildenafil citrate to all patients. Next, we measured the peak systolic velocity (Vmax), end diastolic velocity (Vmin), resistive index (RI), pulsatility index (PI), diameter, area, and flow volume (FV) of vertebral arteries using CDS before the administration of sildenafil citrate; 45 minutes after, and 75 minutes after administration. Statistical testing was performed using SPSS for windows version 11.0. The statistical test used to determine the outcome of the analysis was the repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline values, the vertebral artery diameter, area, and FV increased significantly following the administration of sildenafil citrate. The diameter, area and FV increased from 3.39 mm at 45 minutes to 3.64 mm at 75 minutes, 9.43 cm2 to 10.80 cm2 at 45 minutes and 10.81 cm2 at 75 minutes, as well as from 0.07 L/min at baseline to 0.09 L/min at 45 minutes and unchanged at 75 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSION: Sildenafil citrate elicited a significant effect on vertebral artery diameter, area and FVs.

Keyword

Sildenafil citrate; Vertebral artery; Color duplex sonography; Vertebro-basilar insufficiency

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Blood Flow Velocity/drug effects
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Piperazines/*pharmacology
Pulsatile Flow/drug effects
Purines/pharmacology
Sulfones/*pharmacology
*Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
Vascular Resistance/drug effects
Vasodilator Agents/*pharmacology
Vertebral Artery/*drug effects/physiopathology/ultrasonography
Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency/*physiopathology/ultrasonography

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