©Viagra (Sildenafil) in the treatment of Raynaud’s phenomenon

• Sildenafil which is more commonly known by its brand name ©Viagra is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and therefore acts as a vasodilator

• In this prospective study 7 female patients with systemic sclerosis were enrolled:
  • all of them had digital ulcerations and Raynaud’s phenomenon
  • treatment with calcium channel inhibitors was ineffective
  • dosage of sildenafil was 50-75mg per day for 6 weeks

• Results showed that:
  • Within 2 weeks, there was on improvement of the ulcerations.
  • In 4 patients, healing was complete.
  • Side effects were observed in 1 patient: headaches and hypotension.

• Conclusion: sildenafil appears to be an effective symptomatic treatment in systemic sclerosis patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon and digital ulcerations.

Efficacité du sildénafil dans le traitement du phénomène de Raynaud et des ulcérations digitales au cours de la sclérodermie systémique. Elmansour I. et al. 2013 (12) – Journees Dermatologiques de Paris (JDP)