Does Single/Combined Administration of Tramadol/Viagra Have Reversal Effects on Haematological and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines in Male Albino Rats?

Aim: This study evaluated reversal effects of single/combined doses of tramadol/sildenafil drugs on haematological and anti-inflamatory cytokines in male albino rats.

Study Design: Case control study.

Methodology: Forty (40) male albino rats (180-220 g body weight) were grouped into 3 (n=12) administered orally with tramadol+sildenafil (6 and 4 mg/220 g.bwt), sildenafil (4 mg/180 g.bwt), tramadol (6 mg/180 g.bwt) and control group (n=4) for 3weeks and allowed for additional 3weeks without treatment. Rats were sacrificed by cardiac puncture at the end of week 3 and 6 with 4ml of blood collected for analysis of haemoglobin concentration (Hb), Packed cell volume (PCV), Red blood cell (RBC) count, White blood cell (WBC) count, platelet count, interleukin 8 (IL-8) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) using Elabscience ELISA-kits. GraphPad Prism 5.03 software was used to analyze data generated.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in PCV, Hb, RBC and WBC count in sildenafil+tramadol, sildenafil only group when both phases are compared (p>0.05). There was however a reversal of effect in platelets count (630±48.9 vs 370±44.3) for sildenafil+tramadol group but not sildenafil only group when both phases were compared (p<0.05). There was significant reversal effect in HB (13.8±1.68 vs 15.4±0.42), PCV (40.5±0.53 vs 47.8±1.09) and platelets count (813±34.8 vs 506±104) in tramadol only group when both phases were compared (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in RBC and WBC count in tramadol group (p>0.05). Cytokine parameters in sildenafil group showed no significant difference in IL-8, IL-10 (p>0.05). There was reversal effect in IL-8(282.1±7.65 vs 556.8±8.42), IL-10 (7.98±0.29 vs 12.88±0.83) in sildenafil+tramadol, IL-8 (341.7±5.63 vs 507.2±6.23), IL-10 (14.33±2.36 vs 23.8 ±2.18) in tramadol group.

Conclusion: Routine use of sildenafil+tramadol, sildenafil, tramadol causes derangement in haematological, anti-inflammatory cytokine resulting in negligibly reversibility in haematological parameters, marked reversibility in anti-inflammatory cytokine following their withdrawal. This effect can be applicable in humans who abuse these drugs. Thus, evaluation of the effect of these drugs on haemostatic and anti-inflammatory cytokines in humans is necessary.