The researchers of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) found in a study undertaken that Viagra-the popular anti-impotence drug prevents damage to the heart caused by a potent chemotherapeutic agent frequently used in the treatment of breast cancer, leukemia and sarcomas.

In the April 5 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, researchers demonstrated for the first time that administration of clinically relevant doses of Viagra, generically known as sildenafil citrate, one-hour prior to the administration of the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) prevented heart damage at the cellular level. The research also showed that the impotence drug also prevented dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure in a chronic mouse model. Furthermore, researchers observed a reduction of doxorubicin-induced cell death, an improvement of heart function, and a reduction of electrophysiological abnormalities associated with heart sickness.

Doxorubicin is an effective chemotherapeutic agent commonly used in the treatment of many blood and solid tumor malignancies. Despite doxorubicin'sclinical efficacy for the treatment of cancer, its use is associated with a delayed and progressive cardiomyopathy, a disease or disorder of the heart muscle, often presenting several years after the treatment cessation.

The research produced interesting results that Viagra has a protective effect on the heart as seen during experimental heart attacks on the animal models.

Viagra Research