Background: Sildenafil is a selective inhibitor of type 5 phosphodiesterase used for treatment of male erectile dysfunction with reported side effects in auditory function.
Objective: Evaluation of the effect of sildenafil citrate on distortion product otoacoustic emissions in guinea pigs.
Design: In vivo animal experimentation.
Setting: Otolaryngology department, faculty of medicine in Saudi Arabia
Patients and Methods: An experimental study was conducted in otolaryngology department, faculty of medicine, Al Madinah Al Munawarah, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. Healthy 20 adult male pigmented guinea pigs were divided into 2 groups, group A (control group) were given 0.5 ml distilled water orally by a gastric tube once daily for one week and group B (sildenafil group) were given sildenafil citrate orally by a gastric tube once daily at a dose of 10 mg/kg dissolved in 0.5 ml distilled water for same period. All animals were subjected for Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAE) measurement pre and post utilization of sildenafil citrate for one week.
Sample Size: 20 adult males pigmented guinea pigs.
Results: Group B (sildenafil group) after one week from administration sildenafil citrate orally showed marked reduction in DP amplitude at both 6060 and 8084 as pre-utilization of sildenafil were (43.3&42.7 dB) respectively reduced after one week to (38.3 & 37.7 dB) respectively.
Conclusion: Dose-related sildenafil citrate 100 mg daily use for one week might result in high frequency sensorineural hearing loss and our results supported the few previously published.