Perinatal and Hemodynamic Evaluation of Sildenafil Citrate for Preeclampsia Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To evaluate whether therapy with sildenafil citrate prolongs gestation in women with preeclampsia.

In a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 100 singleton pregnancies with preeclampsia between 24 and 33 weeks of gestation were randomized to 50 mg oral sildenafil citrate every 8 hours or placebo. The primary outcome was prolongation of pregnancy from randomization to delivery. Secondary outcomes were changes in resistance indices of uterine, umbilical, and middle cerebral arteries by Doppler, fetal and maternal complications, and adverse neonatal outcomes. Power analysis estimated that to detect a difference of 5 days in pregnancy duration, 43 patients would have to be randomized to each group.

From June 2013 to October 2015, 50 patients were randomized to each group. Pregnancy duration was on average 4 days longer (14.4 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] 12.5-16.6 days compared with 10.4 days, 95% CI 8.4-12.3 days, P=.008) and percent reduction in pulsatility indices of uterine and umbilical arteries higher (22.5% and 18.5%, compared with placebo 2.1% and 2.5%, P<.001) for patients treated with sildenafil compared with placebo. Maternal blood pressure before and 24 hours after randomization was lower with sildenafil (sildenafil: 100.3±5.6 mm Hg compared with 116.4±5.1 mm Hg, P<.05; placebo: 110.6±6.2 mm Hg compared with 114.7±6.5 mm Hg, P=.21). There was no difference in perinatal morbidity, mortality, or adverse effects between groups.

Therapy with sildenafil citrate was associated with pregnancy prolongation of approximately 4 days compared with placebo in women with preeclampsia.

Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br, RBR-8qj4p5.