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Viagra aids in vascular illness
October 31, 2005
Known by men to be nothing short of the "magic
bullet" used to treat impotence or erectile dysfunction or
the younger set who crave a stiffer edge, Viagra
also appears to be an effective treatment for pulmonary arterial
hypertension or PAH, a rare, aggressive and life-shortening vascular
disease.Recently approved by the FDA,
Pfizer will market sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra,
as Revatio in the treatment of PAH. PAH is characterized by dangerously
high pressure in the blood vessels that lead from the heart to the
lungs. It is estimated that about 100,000 people worldwide are afflicted
with PAH.
Symptoms include difficulty breathing, dizziness and fatigue. Left
untreated, patients have an average survival time of less than three
years from the time of diagnosis.Clinical studies have demonstrated
that Revatio appears to block the action of PDE5A, an enzyme which
helps break down a molecule known as cyclic GMP, thereby prolonging
the vasodilatory effect of nitric oxide. This molecule helps the
heart resist hormonal stresses and enlargement of the heart by 50
percent.
In the pivotal Revatio trial, patients taking 20 mg three times
daily, which became the FDA-approved
dose, increased six-minute walk distances by 45 meters, which
was significantly better than patients in the placebo group. At
the end of one year, walking distances and functional class remained
stable and 94 percent of patients were still alive.Though Tracleer
(bosentan) was the first oral medication to be approved for PAH,
costing about $40,000 a year, Revatio is expected to cost considerably
less for patients.In an effort to minimize confusion, the Revatio
20 mg pill is white and round to distinguish it from Viagra's famous
blue diamond-shaped pill for erectile
dysfunction.
Interestingly, unwanted erections did not pose a problem with those
study patients taking Revatio; most patients were female, and no
males reported complaints.Though Viagra continues to have a hold
in the erectile dysfunction market, patients afflicted with debilitating
cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases such as PAH, can begin to
reap the benefits from this drug's potentially lifesaving qualities.
To read more, visit…
http://www.elpasotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051031/LIVING/510310310/1004
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