Sildenafil Has No Effect on Portal Pressure but Lowers Arterial Pressure in Patients With Compensated Cirrhosis

Background & Aims: The reduction of portal pressure in patients with early compensated cirrhosis may be more responsive to drugs increasing intrahepatic vasodilatation than those reducing portal venous inflow. The phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-V) inhibitor sildenafil can potentially reduce portal pressure by decreasing intrahepatic resistance, but its systemic vasodilatory effects may be deleterious. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sildenafil on systemic and portal hemodynamics in an open-label pilot study. Methods: Twelve patients with compensated cirrhosis and baseline hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) >5 mm Hg received 25 mg of oral sildenafil. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and HVPG were repeated after 30 and 60 minutes in 9/12 patients at 90 minutes (after an additional 25 mg of sildenafil). HVPG tracings were read by 3 blinded observers. Results: All 12 patients were Child A with median MAP of 92 mm Hg (interquartile range, 83-94) and HVPG 10.4 mm Hg (interquartile range, 6.6-13.0). While MAP decreased significantly at all time points, sildenafil had no effect on HVPG. Conclusions: As shown with other vasodilators in compensated cirrhotic patients, sildenafil at therapeutic doses for erectile dysfunction reduces MAP without reducing portal pressure. The search should continue for specific intrahepatic vasodilators.