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Viagra can treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy

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ANI London

A new study has revealed that Viagra and Cialis can be used to fight a muscle-wasting disorder in boys.

According to the scientists, drugs helped improve blood flow to the muscles of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and it might slow the onset of the disease, which causes the breakdown and gradual loss of muscle fibres.

The study found that blood flow to the muscles was improved in boys treated with both Viagra and Cialis, compared with when they were taking corticosteroids.

Lead researcher Dr Ronald Victor, at the Cedars-Sinai Institute, told the BBC said that the research was a "bridge" from the study in mice into a larger, 48-week human study to try out the treatment in 300 boys across the world.

 

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First Published: May 08 2014 | 2:25 PM IST

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