I’m suffering from congenital ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary hypertension with Eisenmenger complex. Now I have polycythemia as well. How does Viagra help in pulmonary hypertension?
Your problem is a birth defect which probably started off as a ventricular septal defect, which has progressed to a situation where the pressures on the right side of your heart are higher than that on the left side. Normally the right side pressures or PA pressure would be less than 25 mmHg. The echocardiograph findings as detailed by you would indicate a reversal of pressures which, in medical parlance, is termed Eisenmengerisation. If the echo diagnosis is accurate, surgical correction would be very risky and not advisable. Sildenfil(Viagra) functions as a phosphodieaterase inhibitor, relaxing the lining of the arterioles and has been used in cases of Pulmonary Hypertension with benefits documented. This drug has recently been approved in the US for treating PH. However it has to be prescribed by your cardiologist and started in extremely small doses. The polycythemia or increased Hemoglobin, is the body’s response to less oxygen supply due to the admixture of pure and impure blood in a condition like yours. Any treatment options can only be made after a clinical examination.
Heart lung transplants are not done on a routine basis in India due to certain practical problems. The best centers are abroad but most of them are hesitant in accepting overseas patients due to the long waiting list of local patients.

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