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Viagra could reduce multiple sclerosis symptoms
Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona ^ | May 19, 2011 | Unknown

Posted on 05/19/2011 2:20:08 PM PDT by decimon

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona researchers have discovered that Viagra® drastically reduces multiple sclerosis symptoms in animal models with the disease. The research, published in Acta Neuropathologica, demonstrates that a practically complete recovery occurs in 50% of the animals after eight days of treatment. Researchers are confident that clinical trials soon will be carried out in patients given that the drug is well tolerated and has been used to treat sexual dysfunction in some multiple sclerosis patients.

Multiple sclerosis is the most common chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and one of the main causes of disability among young adults. The disease is caused by the presence of multiple focuses of demyelination (loss of myelin sheaths around the axons, affecting the ability of neurons to communicate) and neurodegeneration in different areas of the central nervous system. There is currently no cure for the disease, although some drugs have proven effective in fighting symptoms and preventing it from progressing.

A research team from the UAB Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine directed by Dr Agustina García, in collaboration with the research team directed by Dr Juan Hidalgo from the UAB Institute of Neurosciences, has studied the effects of a treatment using sildenafil, sold as Viagra®, in an animal model of multiple sclerosis known as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Researchers demonstrated that a daily treatment with sildenafil after disease onset quickly reduced clinical signs, with a practically complete recovery in 50% of the cases after eight days of treatment. Scientists observed how the drug reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the white matter of the spinal cord, thus reducing damage to the nerve cell's axon and facilitating myelin repair.

Sidenafil, together with tadalafil (Cialis®) and vardenafil (Levitra®), form part of a group of vasodilator drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Recent studies in animal models of central nervous system pathologies already pointed to the fact that in addition to vasodilation, these drugs could contain other neuroprotective actions and suggest their usefulness as possible treatments of both acute (cerebrovascular stroke) and chronic (Alzheimer's) neuropathologies. In fact, in a research published in 2010 in the Journal of Neurochemistry, the same research group from UAB demonstrated that one of these inhibitors reduced neuroinflammation and neuronal damage in animal models of traumatic brain injury.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine
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1 posted on 05/19/2011 2:20:09 PM PDT by decimon
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To: neverdem; DvdMom; grey_whiskers; Ladysmith; Roos_Girl; Silentgypsy; conservative cat; ...

Ping


2 posted on 05/19/2011 2:20:40 PM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon

Will this “stand up” to the expectations?


3 posted on 05/19/2011 2:22:37 PM PDT by RockinRight (Yes We Cain!)
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To: decimon
I find it hard to believe.
4 posted on 05/19/2011 2:23:42 PM PDT by Revolting cat! (Let us prey!)
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To: RockinRight

It should if it passes a series of stiff tests.


5 posted on 05/19/2011 2:27:44 PM PDT by OB1kNOb (The stench of dependency is a sickening smell. Strive to become an asset, not a liability.)
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To: decimon

Is this story on the up and up?


6 posted on 05/19/2011 2:38:55 PM PDT by GOPmember
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To: decimon

This is great news for any MS pervert arrested for assault with a dead weapon.


7 posted on 05/19/2011 2:51:53 PM PDT by hflynn
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To: decimon

In all seriousness, I wonder if there is hard evidence that this works.


8 posted on 05/19/2011 3:41:11 PM PDT by RockinRight (Yes We Cain!)
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To: RockinRight
In all seriousness, I wonder if there is hard evidence that this works.

The straight answer is that they've yet to study the effect in humans.

9 posted on 05/19/2011 3:47:30 PM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon
Is this serious?


Built with SUSE Studio

If you can't appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something's wrong with your ears.

Or you can get raw with these strings. Either way, the violin is sweet yet lethal.

Do it!

10 posted on 05/31/2011 7:18:15 PM PDT by rdb3 (The mouth is the exhaust pipe of the heart.)
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To: rdb3
Is this serious?

Yup. I don't know why but it's apparently working. And if it gives people relief from MS symptoms then good. Even better if it helps treat more than symptoms.

11 posted on 05/31/2011 7:35:50 PM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon
I agree with you on thast. My MS treatment is a monthly IV of Tysabri. This PRMS didn't respond to any other treatment.

If Viagra works, go for it!


Built with SUSE Studio

If you can't appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something's wrong with your ears.

Or you can get raw with these strings. Either way, the violin is sweet yet lethal.

Do it!

12 posted on 06/01/2011 9:22:34 AM PDT by rdb3 (The mouth is the exhaust pipe of the heart.)
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To: rdb3
My MS treatment is a monthly IV of Tysabri.

Okay, I didn't know you had MS. Too many FReepers to remember much about, anyway. Good luck with it.

If you haven't been checking then a search on 'multiple sclerosis' will reveal a number of similar threads.

13 posted on 06/01/2011 10:27:38 AM PDT by decimon
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To: decimon
Will do, thanx!


Built with SUSE Studio

If you can't appreciate the pure beauty of the violin after hearing this, something's wrong with your ears.

Or you can get raw with these strings. Either way, the violin is sweet yet lethal.

Do it!

14 posted on 06/01/2011 11:25:37 AM PDT by rdb3 (The mouth is the exhaust pipe of the heart.)
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