Effects of sildenafil on ventricular and vascular function in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Circ Heart Fail. 2015 May;8(3):533-41. doi: 10.1161/CIRCHEARTFAILURE.114.001915. Epub 2015 Mar 17.

Abstract

Background: Early studies showed beneficial effects of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors on cardiovascular function in heart failure (HF) patients, but the RELAX trial observed no improvement in exercise capacity with sildenafil treatment in subjects with HF and preserved ejection fraction.

Methods and results: A subgroup of participants in the RELAX trial (n=48) underwent comprehensive noninvasive cardiovascular assessment before and after treatment with sildenafil or placebo in a prospective ancillary study. Left ventricular contractility was assessed by peak power index and stroke work index. Systemic arterial load was assessed by arterial elastance (Ea) and right ventricular afterload by pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Endothelial function was assessed by reactive hyperemia index after upper arm cuff occlusion. Compared with placebo (n=25), sildenafil (n=23) decreased Ea (-0.29±0.28 mm Hg/mL versus +0.02±0.29, P=0.008) and tended to improve reactive hyperemia index (+0.30±0.45 versus -0.17±0.30, P=0.054). In contrast, left ventricular contractility was reduced by 11% to 16% with sildenafil compared with placebo (ΔPWR/EDV -52±70 versus +0±40 mm Hg/s, P=0.006; ΔSW/EDV +0.3±5.8 versus -6.0±5.1 mm Hg, P=0.04). Sildenafil had no effect on pulmonary artery systolic pressure.

Conclusions: In subjects with HF and preserved ejection fraction, sildenafil displayed opposing effects on ventricular and vascular function. We speculate that beneficial effects of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors in the systemic vasculature and endothelium were insufficient to improve clinical status or that the deleterious effects on left ventricular function offset any salutary vascular effects, contributing to the absence of benefit observed with sildenafil in subjects with HF and preserved ejection fraction in the RELAX trial.

Clinical trial registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00094302.

Keywords: diastolic heart failure; heart failure; vascular function; ventricular function.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Arterial Pressure / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Exercise Tolerance / drug effects
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / diagnosis
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology
  • Hemodynamics / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Hyperemia / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Contraction / drug effects
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Piperazines / adverse effects
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Purines / adverse effects
  • Purines / therapeutic use
  • Sildenafil Citrate
  • Sulfonamides / adverse effects
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasodilation / drug effects
  • Vasodilator Agents / adverse effects
  • Vasodilator Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Ventricular Function, Left / drug effects*

Substances

  • Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
  • Piperazines
  • Purines
  • Sulfonamides
  • Vasodilator Agents
  • Sildenafil Citrate

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00094302