Feasibility of the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors in a pharmacologic prevention program for recurrent priapism
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Recurrent ischemic priapism is an enigmatic erectile disorder in need of improved clinical interventions to avert its known, potentially serious complications.
AIM: To evaluate the use of a long-term, continuous phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor therapeutic regimen in controlling recurrent ischemic priapism and its feasibility in a clinical management program for the disorder.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main outcome measure was reduction in frequency or duration of priapism episodes. A secondary outcome measure was preservation of erectile ability.
METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical progress of seven patients (age 22-37 years) with sickle cell disease-associated "stuttering" priapism (N = 4) and idiopathic recurrent priapism (N = 3), who were counseled and consented to the "off-label" use of the PDE5 inhibitors sildenafil citrate and tadalafil. The medications were administered according to a specified therapeutic regimen based on scientific evidence that chronic PDE5 inhibitor administration in priapism contexts effectively reconditions PDE5 regulatory function in the penis. The duration of clinical follow-up extended through 2 years.
RESULTS: All seven patients were confirmed to have recurrent ischemic priapism without identifiable pharmacologic, traumatic, or neoplastic disease associations based on clinical history, physical examination, laboratory testing, and penile diagnostics. PDE5 inhibitor treatment was successful in…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.
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