Stopping a Viagra study after the death of 11 babies



[ad_1]

Eleven babies, treated in utero with Viagra for stunting, died in the Netherlands. They were followed in a clinical trial to study the benefits of the blue pill on blood flow.

Dutch researchers ended a clinical study after the death of 11 babies whose mothers had taken viagra during pregnancy to promote deficient growth of the fetus

Viagra, a globally successful drug to fight erectile dysfunction, promotes the dilation of blood vessels. The researchers, who announced the end of the trials on Monday (July 23rd), thought that the small blue pill could promote blood flow to the placenta and "stimulate fetal growth" when the latter is experiencing developmental problems.

Very low chances of survival

According to the University Hospital Center of Amsterdam which conducted the study with 10 hospitals in the country, the chances of survival of babies born after this type in-utero complications "is low and there is no other treatment."

At the time of discontinuation of the trials, started in 2015, 93 women had been prescribed viagra during pregnancy, 90 other placebo

None of the women recruited for this study had a complication due to taking the drug. In contrast, 19 infants in utero with viagra died, 11 of them probably because of pulmonary hypertension that could be drug-related.

Six other infants born premature also had lung problems but survived

Pulmonary complications

In the placebo group, nine children died but none of the pulmonary complications, while three babies born with these complications survived.

A dozen women who participated in the study now wait in anguish for the end of their pregnancy. Gynecologist Wessel Ganzevoort, who led the study, said he was "shocked" by the test results. "The last thing we want is to harm patients," he said.

The results of the study were shared with Canadian researchers who are doing similar work.

[ad_2]
Source link