The Effects of Sildenafil on the Treatment of Neonatal Chronic Lung Disease

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is one of the most common disorders in premature infants and this study aimed to investigate the role of sildenafil in the treatment of neonatal chronic lung diseases.
In a placebo-controlled clinical trial study, a total of 40 neonates were included and randomly divided into control and intervention groups; sildenafil tablets were used at a dose of 2mg per kg for 8 hours in the intervention group and placebo with the same characteristics in the control group. After a period of 10 days, oxygen demand, type of respiratory support, changes in pulmonary artery pressure, Length of hospital stay, and systemic blood pressure changes were measured.
Duration of admission significantly decreased in the intervention group (P value = 0.006). For the neonates in the control group from approximately 11 days after the start of treatment (11/47±9/19) and for those in the intervention group from approximately 8 days after the start of treatment (8/21±3/84), respiratory support with positive pressure was changed to respiratory support with free flow oxygen. No severe systolic or diastolic blood pressure change was observed in any of the groups. Decrease in pulmonary pressure was significantly higher in the intervention group than that in the control group (21/1% and 68/4%, respectively) (P value: 0.003).
The results of the study showed that sildenafil significantly reduced the length of hospital stay, the duration of the need for respiratory support and oxygen administration, and corrected the pulmonary pressure. No specific side effects were found