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It has been shown that a widely used pill against impotence reverses heart failure as part of a study that could give it a new vital role.
The scientists described the results of the research, in which Cialis was administered to sheep, as a "breakthrough."
The progression of heart failure induced in animals was halted and the effects of the devastating disease were reversed.
Cialis, the drug tadalafil, works similarly to Viagra, but it lasts longer and is preferred by many men with erectile problems.
Professor Andrew Trafford, a senior researcher at the University of Manchester, said: "This discovery is a significant advance in a devastating situation that is causing misery for thousands of people across the UK and beyond.
"We have limited evidence from human trials and epidemiological studies that show that tadalafil may be effective in the treatment of heart failure.
"This study provides additional confirmation, adds mechanistic details and demonstrates that tadalafil could now be a possible treatment for heart failure.
"It is quite possible that some patients who take it for erectile dysfunction have also benefited unwittingly from a protective effect on their heart."
Heart failure occurs when the heart is too weak to pump enough blood into the body.
It can follow a heart attack or be caused by a genetic abnormality.
People affected by heart failure are quickly exhausted and suffer from shortness of breath and swelling caused by a build-up of fluid in the lungs.
When the situation worsens, it can be life threatening. The five-year survival rates of heart failure are lower than those of the most common cancers.
For the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, sheep have been equipped with cardiac pacemakers inducing heart failure sufficiently advanced to require treatment.
The animals were chosen because they have a heart similar to that of humans.
Cialis was administered to sheep at the same dose as that used to treat erectile dysfunction in men.
The drug blocks an enzyme called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), which regulates how tissues respond to hormones such as adrenaline.
Cialis has almost completely reversed the biological cause of shortness of breath in heart failure patients – the inability of the heart to react to adrenaline – showed the study.
The heart's ability to force blood around the body when working more has been increased.
However, Professor Trafford warned patients not to self-treat, although Cialis is widely used and safe.
He said: "We would not advise the public to treat themselves with the drug and we should always talk to their doctor if they have any concerns or questions.
"Tadalafil is only suitable for the treatment of systolic heart failure – when the heart can not pump properly – and that there may be interactions with other medications that patients take. "
Prof. Metin Avkiran, of the British Heart Foundation, who funded the study, said: "Viagra-type drugs were originally developed as potential treatments for heart disease before their effects on erectile dysfunction are unexpected.
"We seem to have come full circle, with findings from recent studies suggesting that they could be effective in treating some forms of heart disease – in this case, heart failure.
"We need new safe and effective treatments for heart failure, a cruel and debilitating disease that affects nearly a million people in the UK.
"Evidence from this study, that a Viagra drug could reverse heart failure, should encourage new research on humans to determine if such drugs can help save and improve lives."
– Press Association
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