Ventilatory efficiency and dyspnea on exertion improvements are related to reduced pulmonary pressure in heart failure patients receiving Sildenafil

Abstract: Chronic phosphodiesterase-5 inhibition improves peak oxygen consumption, ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) in heart failure (HF). In 40 male patients, Sildenafil treatment produced a significant (p <0.001) decrease in dyspnea upon exertion (DOE) at maximal exercise. The correlations between the change in systolic PAP and both the change in the VE/VCO2 slope (r =0.57, p <0.001) and DOE at maximal exercise (r s =0.49, p <0.001) were significant. DOE at maximal exercise is significantly reduced and the degree of improvement in PAP is reflected by the degree of improvement in the VE/VCO2 slope and DOE following Sildenafil therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]