Impotence Drugs Overcome for Rare Hypertension In Children

erectile dysfunction drugs are usually consumed by adults. But studies show that the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drugs could be developed to treat rare disorders of blood pressure in children.

This study reveals the active ingredient in the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra may help children with a rare condition called pulmonary arterial hypertension, a condition that causes abnormally high blood pressure in the arteries leading to the lungs.



This condition can be inherited is sometimes followed by some form of heart disease or could also occur without any known reason. This disease can limit a person's ability to exercise and lead to heart failure or even death.

"Some pediatricians already use it to treat the condition, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not given consent for that purpose," said Dr. Thomas Kulik of the section of cardiology at Children's Hospital Boston, as quoted from HealthDay, Wednesday (26/10/2011) .

Dr. Kulik is also professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, Boston said that in adults, sildenafil, it can help increase oxygen delivery and exercise tolerance.

In this new study, researchers enrolled 105 children aged 1-17 years who were given placebo, low dose medication, dose menenangah and high-dose drug for 16 weeks.

Known children taking the drug could do the exercises at the end of the study and had more improvement in lung function compared with children who took placebo.

"The effect is moderate, sildenafil may somewhat improve the patient's ability of children to exercise. It takes some time to find out whether these drugs can increase the lifespan of children who have the condition," said Dr. Kulik is not involved in this study.

The researchers revealed overall high doses is the most safe and effective. However, further research will be needed to corroborate the evidence.