Viagra for blue babies likely to be trialled

The efficacy and safety of sildenafil (Viagra) as a treatment for pulmonary hypertension is likely to be tested in at least one controlled trial, after controversy was stirred by reports that the drug is being given to newborns with “blue baby” syndrome (27 July,181).

The drug has been used on babies at the Royal Brompton Children's Hospital in London and several other centres around the world. The science magazine New Scientist reported that children as young as 8 hours old have also been given the drug …