The unexpected death of 11 babies in a clinical trial with Viagra in the Netherlands

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They wanted to check if Viagra was good for fetuses with growth problems in the uterus. Unfortunately, they discovered that the effect was totally opposite.

A clinical trial in the Netherlands that gave sildenafil (the generic name of Viagra) to pregnant women had to be stopped after the death of 11 newborns. improve the growth of underdeveloped fetuses.

The pill, which improves blood circulation and dilates blood vessels, may have caused fatal damage to babies' lungs.

Previous trials in the United Kingdom, Australia and Australia. New Zealand found no evidence that the intervention was harmful, but found no benefit either.

At that time, in 2010, the researchers said that the treatment would only be used in clinical trials

. a full investigation is needed to understand what happened in the Netherlands.

It is not suggested that a crime was committed,

• Is it dangerous? Who can use it? 4 things to know before using Viagra

Sick babies

Hospitals see hundreds of pregnant women every year whose fetal development is very slow.

We speak of fetuses who, at 22 weeks of gestation, They weigh 300 grams. Their survival expectancy is between 40 and 50%. Under these circumstances, surviving babies have a very low birth weight and, in many cases, their health is delicate.

There is still no medication or therapy for this problem and a treatment that improves weight or prolongs significant pregnancy for these very sick babies.

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The drug in which the hopes were put, sildenafil or Viagra, seems more harmful than beneficial.

Sildenafil tablets and placebo treatment

The Dutch study now suspended, which was to continue until 2020, developed in 11 hospitals in the Netherlands, including the Medical Center of the 39, University of Amsterdam

A total of 93 women received sildenafil and 90 took a placebo pill

Of all babies, 20 developed lung problems. birth: three in the placebo group and the rest in the royal treatment group with Viagra.

11 babies of the sildenafil group died of pulmonary complications .

: nine babies died shortly after birth, but it was for other complications

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Gynecologist and research director Wessel Ganzevoort was not aware of the bad results until last Thursday, when he heard the findings of an independent commission that evaluated the study.

"I expected to know that sildenafil worked so well. Well, we were not going to need the patients in the placebo group, but the numbers from all the hospitals participating in the study told a totally different story.

"Not only was the mortality rate of women who consumed Viagra was higher, but creatures contracted more often lung disease."

Professor Zarcko Alfirevic, of the University of Liverpool, head of the British part of the research on the effects of sildenafil during pregnancy that we mentioned above, he said: "This discovery in the Dutch study is unexpected.

" A full investigation is needed because it We have not seen them in other similar tests that have been developed in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. "

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