Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition potentiates cerebrovascular reactivity in chronic traumatic brain injury.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Traumatic cerebrovascular injury (TCVI), a common consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), presents an attractive therapeutic target. Because phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors potentiate the action of nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial cells, they are candidate therapies for TCVI. This study aims to: (1) measure cerebral blood flow (CBF), cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), and change in CVR after a single dose of sildenafil (ΔCVR) in chronic TBI compared to uninjured controls; (2) examine the safety and tolerability of 8-week sildenafil administration in chronic symptomatic moderate/severe TBI patients; and as an exploratory aim, (3) assess the effect of an 8-week course of sildenafil on chronic TBI symptoms.

Methods

Forty-six subjects (31 chronic TB

SUBMITTER: Kenney K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5899908 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature