In a new study from the University of Manchester, researchers found the drug Viagra, used to treat sexual impotence, may strongly suppress abnormal heart rhythms known as arrythmias.
The finding could have important implications on the management of the heart condition.
Cardiac arrythmias often follow a heart attack or result from heart disease. Though often benign, they can cause symptoms including palpitations, breathlessness, fainting and sometimes sudden death.
Treatments such as beta-blockers and implantable defibrillators exist, though are not always effective.
In the study, the team worked on isolated sheep heart muscle cells known as myocytes. They were also able to measure their calcium stores- as well as their electrical properties.
The team found in female sheep, the drug was able to suppress an arrythmia called Torsades de Pointes within 90 seconds by reducing the frequency of irregular heart rhythms caused by abnormal handling of calcium.
It also reduced the probability of Torsades de Pointes, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. However, the team believes the drug could treat other arrythmias as well.
The team says not only has this study demonstrated that Viagra has a powerful antiarrhythmic effect on living heart tissue, the cell studies have also uncovered the mechanism by which this happens.
Though we studied the effect in sheep, the researchers believe this discovery is likely to be relevant humans: the humans heart is a similar size to a sheep’s, as is its anatomy and associated electrical circuitry.
This discovery could one day unleash the potential for effective treatment on what can be a devastating problem.
The team warns that anyone who has a cardiac arrythmia should not self-medicate and should consult their GP for advice on current treatment options.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about this bad sleep habit may increase heart disease risk and findings of this common supplement linked to lower heart disease and death risk.
For more information about heart disease, please see recent studies about this hormone may reduce inflammation, irregular heartbeat and results showing that this new drug may treat cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and more.
The study is published in Circulation Research. One author of the study is David C Hutchings.
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