Motor Response to Acute Challenge to Sildenafil in Parkinsons Disease
Motor Response to Acute Challenge to Sildenafil in Parkinsons Disease
Sildenafil (Viagra(R))is widely used by men with Parkinsons Disease (PD) and erectile dysfunction. A number of patients have reported that when they take Sildenafil, their need of anti-PD medication is reduced.
We hypotheses that sildenafil increases brain blood flow and hence improves the function of specific brain regions, improving motor function.
Motor function and cerebral blood flow of 8 patients will be tested before and after Sildenafil intake and before and after anti-PD medication.
Erectile dysfunction can be experienced by up tp 40% of men with Parkinsons Disease (PD). Sildenafil (Viagra(R))is widely used by men with PD and erectile dysfunction. A number of patients have reported that when they take Sildenafil, their need of anti-PD medication is reduced.
We hypotheses that sildenafil increases cerebral blood flow in basal ganglia and hence improves the function, improving motor function.
Motor function and cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of 8 patients will be tested before and after Sildenafil intake and before and after anti-PD medication.
rCBF will be measured by the Xe133 inhalation method and a fast-rotating, brain-dedicated, single photon emission computerized tomograph (SPECT, Tomomatic, 232, Medimatic, Inc., Denmark). Two scans will be perfomed, when patients are i)in normal medicated state and ii) in normal medicated state 1 hour after intake of 100 mg sildenafil.
Motor function will be measured i 4 conditions: i)in normal medicated state and ii) in normal medicated state 1 hour after intake of 100 mg sildenafil, iii) after 12 hours of discontiation of anti-PD mediciation and iiii) after 14 hours of discontiation of anti-PD mediciation and 1 hour after intake of 100 mg sildenafil.
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