A controlled trial of sildenafil in advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sildenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, may preferentially improve blood flow to well-ventilated regions of the lung in patients with advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, which could result in improvements in gas exchange. We tested the hypothesis that treatment with sildenafil would improve walk distance, dyspnea, and quality of life in patients with advanced idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, defined as a carbon monoxide diffusion capacity of less than 35% of the predicted value.

Methods

We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of sildenafil in two periods. The first period consisted of 12 weeks of a double-blind comparison between sildenafil and a placebo control. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with an increase i

SUBMITTER: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Clinical Research Network 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3587293 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature