Vardenafil: A potential drug to protect gastric mucosa
Indomethacin has been proved by epidemiological and experimental studies to be closely associated with peptic ulcer development. Vardenafil is a potent phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor and its effects on the gastric mucosa havenot been reported.
A research article to be published in October 28, 2009 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. The research team, led by Dr. Karakaya MD from Zonguldak Karaelmas University, designed an experimental study in rat which they used vardenafil to study gastric mucosal protection against the harmful effects of indomethacin.
Multiple agents have been used to prevent NSAID-induced peptic ulcer. This work is the first experimental study that show the beneficial effects of Vardenafil (a phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor) on NSAID-induced gastric ulcer. The gastroprotective effect of vardenafil against NSAID-induced peptic ulcer is dose-dependent. The study results suggest that vardenafil might be used as a potential therapeutic drug to prevent NSAID-induced gastric ulcer formation.
More information: Karakaya K, Hanci V, Bektas S, Can M, Ucan HB, Emre AU, Tascılar O, Ozkocak Turan I, Comert M, Irkorucu O, Karadeniz Cakmak G. Mitigation of indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions by a potent specific type V phosphodiesterase inhibitor. World J Gastroenterol 2009; 15(40): 5091-5096 www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/15/5091.asp