Babies die after the administration of Viagra in Holland

Image copyright
Getty Images

A Viagra trial in pregnancy was urgently discontinued after the death of 11 newborns.

Women participating in the Dutch study had received anti-impotence tablets to improve the growth of their unborn children because they had poorly developed placentas.

It seems that the drug, which promotes blood circulation, may have caused fatal damage to the lungs of babies.

Experts say that a full investigation is necessary to understand what happened.

There is no indication that there has been any harm.

Sick Babies

Previous trials in the United Kingdom and Australia and New Zealand found no evidence of potential injury from the intervention. But they also found no benefit.

At this time, in 2010, researchers said that treatment should only be used in trials.

The restriction of fetal growth caused by an underdeveloped placenta is a serious disease that currently has no treatment.

This may mean that babies are born prematurely, with a very low birth weight and low chances of survival.

A drug that could improve weight or prolong the delivery time could have significant benefits for these very sick babies. ] Dummy drug

The last Dutch study, which was to be carried out until 2020, was conducted in 11 hospitals in the Netherlands, including the University Medical Center of Amsterdam.

A total of 93 women received sildenafil (the non-brand name of Viagra) while the other 90 received a fictitious drug or placebo.

Twenty babies developed lung problems after birth – three in the placebo group and the rest in the treatment group.

Professor Zarcko Alfirevic, of the University of Liverpool, who led a portion of British research on sildenafil during pregnancy and who found no benefit in terms of improving baby growth, said: "This discovery in the Dutch study is unexpected."

"We must be cautious at this point to find out more."

"We need a thorough investigation because the complications have not been seen in the other two similar trials that have already been done in the Kingdom. United Kingdom and Australia and New Zealand. "