Partial motor restoration upon administration of sildenafil: a case study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Extensive research in the past decade has confirmed that the adult brain maintains some plasticity, including neural cell birth, migration and integration. Pre-clinical data strongly suggest that phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors promote cerebral neovascularization and neurogenesis. Animal studies of cerebral stroke suggest potential regenerative benefits following treatment with sildenafil citrate, a PDE5 inhibitor. This study reports a case in which compassionate use of sildenafil was investigated as a treatment to improve physical functioning, more than 4 decades after development of spastic quadriplegia during the 1st-2nd year of life.
METHODS: Sildenafil 100 mg was administered every 24 hours for 7 months.
RESULTS: Sildenafil treatment was associated with clinical (functional) improvement.
CONCLUSIONS: The activity of sildenafil on cerebral neovascularization and neurogenesis may be the mechanism for the observed functional benefits.
How strong is the evidence?
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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