Background: Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors have shown beneficial effects in heart failure owing to their propensity to dilate the pulmonary vasculature, enhance the right ventricular contractility, and improve the ventricular interdependence. However, their effect in biventricular failure remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of sildenafil, a selective PDE-5 inhibitor, on ventricular function, exercise capacity, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with biventricular dysfunction.
Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older with pulmonary hypertension secondary to biventricular dysfunction, despite optimal medical therapy were randomised to receive either sildenafil 20 mg thrice a day or placebo for 3 months. Clinical investigations such as coronary angiogram, 6-minute walk distance (6MWD), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire (MLHFQ), 2D echocardiogram (2D ECHO), right and left ventricular ejection fraction by first pass radionuclide scan and right heart hemodynamics were performed at baseline and at 3 months.
Results: 38 patients aged ≥18 years with biventricular dysfunction (
Key words: Heart Failure (HF), Pulmonary Vascular Resistance (PVR), 6-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD), Right Ventricle Ejection Fraction (RVEF)
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