According to new research, an anti-impotence drug could be used for curing heart failure.
Tadalafil, an erectile dysfunction drug sold under the brand name Cialis, was found to slow and reverse the progression of heart failure in sheep by scientists at the University of Manchester.
The study is a breakthrough in the search for a cure to the disease that kills thousands of people every year.
Professor Andrew Trafford said it was “entirely possible” it will also work on humans.
“This discovery is an important advance in a devastating condition which causes misery for thousands of people across the UK and beyond,” he said.
“We do have limited evidence from human trials and epidemiological studies that show Tadalafil can be effective in treating heart failure.
“This study provides further confirmation, adds mechanistic details and demonstrates that Tadalafil could now be a possible therapy for heart failure.
“It’s entirely possible that some patients taking it for erectile dysfunction have also unwittingly enjoyed a protective effect on their heart.”
Heart failure occurs when the heart becomes too weak to pump enough blood the body requires. It results in a fluid build-up that backs up into the lungs, causing fluid retention and breathlessness.
In the study, Cialis was shown to slow and reverse the symptoms.
Researchers used sheep as the physiology of their hearts are similar to that of humans. The animals were fitted with pacemakers to induce symptoms of heart failure. Then, the sheep were given a dose of the drug similar to that given to men with erectile dysfunction.
After a short period of time, the progression stopped. In addition, the biological cause of breathlessness was almost completely reversed.
Tadalafil blocks Phosphodiesterase 5, an enzyme that regulates how the body responds to hormones. It was found that the drug altered chemical reactions in the body and restored the ability of the heart to respond to adrenaline.
Also, the treatment improved the heart’s ability to force blood around the body.
“We seem to have gone full-circle, with findings from recent studies suggesting that they may be effective in the treatment of some forms of heart disease – in this case, heart failure,” said Professor Metin Avkiran, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation.
“We need safe and effective new treatments for heart failure, which is a cruel and debilitating condition that affects almost a million people in the UK.
“The evidence from this study – that a Viagra-like drug could reverse heart failure – should encourage further research in humans to determine if such drugs may help to save and improve lives.”
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