Partial motor restoration upon administration of sildenafil: a case study

Abstract

Objective: Extensive research in the past decade has confirmed that the adult brain maintains some plasticity, including neural cell birth, migration and integration. Pre-clinical data strongly suggest that phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors promote cerebral neovascularization and neurogenesis. Animal studies of cerebral stroke suggest potential regenerative benefits following treatment with sildenafil citrate, a PDE5 inhibitor. This study reports a case in which compassionate use of sildenafil was investigated as a treatment to improve physical functioning, more than 4 decades after development of spastic quadriplegia during the 1st–2nd year of life.

Methods: Sildenafil 100 mg was administered every 24 hours for 7 months.

Results: Sildenafil treatment was associated with clinical (functional) improvement.

Conclusions: The activity of sildenafil on cerebral neovascularization and neurogenesis may be the mechanism for the observed functional benefits.

• Quadriplegia
• sildenafil
• neurogenesis
• neovascularization
• physiologic