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Babies die after mums given Viagra in Dutch trial
A Viagra in pregnancy trial has been urgently stopped after 11 newborn babies died. Women taking part in the Dutch study had been given the anti-impotence tablets to improve growth of their unborn children because they had poorly developed placentas.
It appears the drug, which promotes blood flow, may have caused lethal damage to the babies' lungs. Experts say a full investigation is needed to understand what happened. There is no suggestion that there was any wrong-doing.
Earlier trials in the UK and Australia and New Zealand did not find any evidence of potential harm from the intervention. But they also found no benefit.
[...] Foetal growth restriction caused by an underdeveloped placenta is a serious condition that currently has no treatment. It can mean babies are born prematurely, with a very low birth weight and poor chances of survival. A medication that could improve weight or prolong the time to delivery could have significant advantages for these very sick babies.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by fadrian on Thursday July 26 2018, @03:03PM (7 children)
It's a shame, but that's how medicine advances. Given that there was no treatment for the original condition, it was worth a shot. It looks like the trial system worked (sort of) as designed - try something, if it doesn't work, stop it as quickly as you can.
The only issue I might see is that 11 deaths seems a bit high before stopping the trial. You'd think that 3 or so would be enough to halt it, but I guess you'd have to know the original trial population and they did have to determine causes of death, decide whether or not the deaths were due to the drug, etc. It might take them a while to get the trial stopped, too, depending on its size and the numbers of practitioners involved.
That is all.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday July 26 2018, @03:05PM (5 children)
I think they said 93 women got the drug, and 90 women in control grope received placebo.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 26 2018, @03:21PM (4 children)
heh, freudian slip
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday July 26 2018, @03:29PM
Most likely wearing hospital nightshirts and not your moms panties!
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday July 26 2018, @03:38PM (2 children)
You obviously haven't seen my posting history.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 3, Funny) by bob_super on Thursday July 26 2018, @04:27PM
Controlled groping, synchronized groping, artistic groping ... what a great idea for raising viewership at the 2020 and 2028 Olympics!
Gimme a minute to Tweet someone, and he'll make it happen!
(Score: 3, Touché) by Bot on Thursday July 26 2018, @04:39PM
> You obviously haven't seen my posting history.
the autocorrect has seen your posting history though nudge nudge wink wink say no more.
Account abandoned.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 30 2018, @05:51PM
what a blind whore you are. big pharma apologist. there's probably a simple, natural way to avoid this condition and for the ignorant/unfortunate who still develop the condition, there's probably a simple, natural, completely safe treatment. Instead, the monstrous pieces of dog shit kill 11 babies. i would have no problem executing these stupid motherfuckers.