Mums trial Viagra for unborn babies

Queensland new mums Shannon James and Emma Kennedy took part in the study while pregnant with now 6-week-old Peta and 6-month-old Emma. Photo: Tara Croser, courtesy Sunday Mail.

Underdeveloped babies are participating in an unusual drug trial to boost their chance of survival.

The Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, has joined an international study using sildenafil (also known as Viagra) to support severe growth restricted babies in the womb.

Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist Dr Renuka Sekar is leading the STRIDER project at RBWH investigating whether sildenafil improves blood flow to the placenta, enhances nutrient exchange and boosts fetus growth.

Severe growth restriction can occur in babies with chromosomal disorders, or mothers with very high blood pressure, medical conditions such as renal disease or lupus, abnormal placentas and women who are well but have small babies.

Currently, there is no treatment for severe growth restriction which has an infant survival rate of only 70 per cent, with an 80 per cent chance of serious disability. Babies with the condition are at risk of death, oxygen deprivation and preterm birth.

The STRIDER study aims to delay birth as long as possible to allow the infants more time to develop fully. Mothers are given three tablets per day, either sildenafil or placebo, until they give birth or they reach 32 weeks gestation, whichever is sooner.

Women in the study must be between 22 and 30 weeks pregnant and having a single baby considered small based on ultrasound and estimated fetal weight. So far 89 Queensland women have participated in the trial, but researchers are hoping to recruit a total of 122 women throughout the study.

The STRIDER project is an international collaboration based out of the University of Auckland.