A Case Report of Pulmonary Vascular Dilation and Multilevel Bronchial Mucosal Bleeding Contributed to Long-term Administration of Sildenafil
Abstract
: Although sildenafil is approved for erectile dysfunction (ED) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), its association with pulmonary side effect has not been previously reported. This case underscores the potential risk of pulmonary vascular dilation, tortuosity, and airway mucosal bleeding associated with chronic sildenafil administration. This case report describes a 44-year-old male presenting with a 1-year history of cough and productive sputum, which worsened over the past 3 days. The patient reported no smoking history but had been using sildenafil for 7 years to manage ED. Electronic bronchoscopy identified diffuse punctate hemorrhagic spots in the multilevel-bronchial mucosa. Three-dimensional contrast-enhanced CT angiography of the thoracic aorta revealed dilated and tortuous pulmonary bronchial arteries, along with focal dilation of the pulmonary arterioles and venules. After ruling out alternative diagnoses, chronic sildenafil administration was identified as the culprit
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Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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