The widely used erectile dysfunction drug Levitra is now the
second drug in its class found to protect the heart against
tissue damage following acute heart attack, according to a new
study by Virginia Commonwealth University.
"Our findings further support the concept that the novel class
of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, or PDE-5 inhibitors,
including Levitra and Viagra, may have a new utility in cardiac
protection, in addition to their well-known use for the
management of erectile dysfunction in men," said Rakesh C.
Kukreja, Ph.D., professor of medicine, physiology, biochemistry
and emergency medicine at VCU. Kukreja is lead author of the
study. This was confirmed by
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In the study, currently available online and to be published in
the March issue of the Journal of Molecular and Cellular
Cardiology and
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team demonstrated for the first time that pretreatment with a
clinically relevant dose of Levitra, generically known as
vardenafil, induces a protective effect against heart attack
injury by opening the mitochondrial KATP channel in an animal
model. The Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology is the
official publication of the International Society for Heart
Research.
According to Kukreja, PDE-5 is an enzyme responsible for the
destruction of cGMP, an intracellular messenger molecule, in
heart cells. He said that the mitochondrial KATP channel and
cGMP play an important role in preconditioning of the heart
following a heart attack. The cGMP also has a hand in the
dilation of arteries in the body. PDE-5 inhibitor drugs, such as
vardenafil, sildenafil, the generic term for Viagra, and
tadalafil, the generic name for Cialis, are able to preserve
cGMP, and therefore dilation of the arteries by inhibiting
PDE-5.
Vardenafil, like sildenafil, stabilizes the mitochondria and
protects against damage of the heart by opening the
mitochondrial KATP channels in cardiac cells. Mitochondria are
cellular organelles critical for converting oxygen into ATP, the
key fuel for cellular function.
"This study provides important information about the mechanism
by which the PDE-5 inhibitors work. Furthermore, it is proof
that the positive findings of prior studies on sildenafil extend
to another PDE-5 inhibitor," said George Vetrovec, M.D., chair
of cardiology at VCU's School of Medicine, who is
internationally recognized for his research on coronary artery
disease.
Vetrovec suggested that PDE-5 inhibitors such as sildenafil and
vardenafil may one day be given to patients who are at high risk
for acute heart attack or prior to undergoing coronary artery
bypass surgery to optimize heart protection.
In addition, Kukreja said that the PDE-5 inhibitors may be
developed for future use to protect the brain, liver and other
organs against ischemic injury - those injuries that are caused
by lack of oxygen.
Kukreja and his colleagues began studying sildenafil in 2002 as
part of ongoing research into "preconditioning," a way to
protect the heart muscle from serious damage in the future by
subjecting it to very brief periods of deprivation of blood flow
and, therefore, oxygen.
About the author:
Samantha Slims is a writer for ED treatment
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