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Treating erectile dysfunction and central neurological diseases with oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. Review of the literature

Lombardi G, Nelli F, Celso M, Mencarini M, Del Popolo G

The journal of sexual medicine, 2012

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is reported in a high percentage of patients with central neurological disorders (CND).

AIM: An up-to-date review on oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5): sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil for individuals with CND and ED.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Various questionnaires on ED, such as the International Index of Erectile Function composed of 15 questions.

METHODS: Internationally published clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of PDE5 on subjects with CND and ED were selected.

RESULTS: Overall, 28 articles on PDE5 used to treat patients with CND and ED were included. With each of the three PDE5 compared to placebo or erectile baseline, literature reported significant statistical improvement (P < 0.01; P < 0.05) only in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). PDE5 efficacy was documented for SCI patients up to 10 years. The most frequent predicable factor for PDE5 success was the presence of upper motoneuron lesion. Each of the three clinical sildenafil studies documented statistically significant improvement on erectile function in Parkinson's patients (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). Two studies reported discordant results about sildenafil's effectiveness on multiple sclerosis (MS) patients; one on tadalafil showed significant statistical efficacy on erection versus baseline (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). The only spina bifida article determined that sildenafil remarkably improved erectile function. Overall, drawbacks were mostly…

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