Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2010 , Vol 56 , Num 4

Cerebrovascular Accident Following Unprescribed Use of Sildenafil: Is it Underestimated?

Murat Zinnuroğlu 1 ,Bijen Nazlıel 2 ,Gülçin Kaymak Karataş 3 ,Nurdan Araçoğlu 4 ,Belgin Koçer 5
1 Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Ankara
2 Visart Görüntüleme Merkezi, Ankara, Türkiye
3 Ankara Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
4 Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
5 Gazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroloji Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
DOI : 10.4274/tftr.56.204

Sildenafil citrate is a commonly used agent in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications have been reported associated with sildenafil use. Despite the well-described cardiovascular side effects, little is known about the development of cerebrovascular diseases. We present a 46-year-old patient with stroke and global aphasia due to the combined use of sildenafil and alcohol. Patients may be reluctant to mention sildenafil use, and drugs like sildenafil should be considered as a contributing factor to stroke in cases of other wise unexplained etiology. 

Keywords : Sildenafil, cerebrovascular accident, alcohol, stroke, sildenafil citrate