Trial of Viagra in Pregnant Women Stopped After 11 Babies Killed.

Some Dutch researchers previously thought that the erectile dysfunction drug in this man can help the fetus whose development is delayed. But the consequences are quite fatal.
Dutch doctors and researchers later announced Monday that research involving Viagra and pregnant women was immediately stopped after 11 babies were declared dead of lung problems that may be related to the drug.

The study, conducted at the University of Amsterdam Academic Health Center (AMC) along with 11 hospitals in the Netherlands, involved administering the drug sildenafil or better known as the trade name Viagra. This drug is given to pregnant women who have fetal growth problems.

Viagra or sildenafil can indeed improve blood flow and previous studies have also shown that this drug can improve placental function, the AMC said in a statement.

Doctors want to see if this drug can also "stimulate the development of the fetus in the womb" which has a negative prognosis.

"The first results from the current study suggest that there may be adverse effects on the baby after birth," the statement added, adding that the side effects had never been seen before.

Lung disease may be associated with sildenafil

The study, which began in 2015, included 183 pregnant women, about half received sildenafil and another received placebo.

Of the 93 women who were given sildenafil, 19 of their babies died after birth, with 11 deaths from high blood pressure in the lungs that may be associated with administration of this drug. Six other babies also had the same lung condition but survived.

Meanwhile, nine of the 90 women who took the placebo died. But none of the babies died of lung problems. Three babies from the placebo group also experienced lung conditions like babies from the sildenafil group. While three babies survived.

This drug has no effect on the mothers of both groups. While there are 15 mothers who are involved in this study and still have not given birth.

AMC says in other countries sildenafil is sometimes prescribed for pregnant women whose babies face developmental delays in the uterus, although this is rare in the Netherlands. The researchers hope that all drug use will be stopped and further research should be conducted to examine the effect and safety of the drug when used during pregnancy.

Viagra was originally developed by pharmaceutical company Pfizer and is commonly used to treat erectile dysfunction in men. Now available as a generic drug.
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