Viagra Notes

Viagra Yields Benefits to Mother and Fetus in Hypertensive Pregnancy

The first study to consider the effect of Viagra (sildenafil citrate) during pregnancy affected by hypertension on such significant facts as fetal growth and well-being and the mother's uterine circulation yielded surprisingly positive results, which may indicate possible utility in preeclampsia, the leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity worldwide.

Although Viagra didn't actually lower mothers' blood pressure, "it did produce some very significant and beneficial effects on pregnancy-induced vascular adaptation and fetal outcome," according to senior author/laboratory head, George Osol, professor and director of research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington. The study concluded with the following interesting results.

When given to pregnant rats with induced hypertension, Viagra:

1. Helped arteries of the uterus grow as they should during pregnancy. "Hypertension decreases the growth and alters contractility of blood vessels in the uterus," Osol said, "but giving Viagra reversed these effects, resulting in improved function of the uterine circulation." Arterial diameters of Viagra-treated animals didn't quite match control (normal) values, "but were significantly larger than those with hypertension, suggesting that it may have increased blood flow to the uterus and placenta," Osol added.



2. Increased fetal weights to normal values, compared with untreated hypertensive offspring whose weights were reduced by more than 20%. "This observation also supports an effect on uterine blood flow since it's well known that restriction of uterine blood flow during pregnancy is associated with reduced fetal weight, which is a serious clinical problem," Osol added.



3. Third, and most surprisingly, Viagra completely prevented fetal resorption, or fetal mortality. Whereas 11% (6/52) of fetuses were lost in the hypertensive group, none were lost in the group that received Viagra, even though they were still hypertensive.