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The Association Between Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor Use and Risk of Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bing Liu, Linxin Zhu, Jingxiang Zhong, Guohua Zeng, Tuo Deng

Sexual Medicine, 2018

27 citations

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) are first-line drugs for erectile dysfunction. Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) has been linked with PDE5-I use. However, no meta-analysis or conclusive review has explored the association between NAION and PDE5-I use. AIM: To investigate the association between PDE5-I use and risk of NAION. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using online databases in October 2017 to obtain studies researching the association between PDE5-I application and occurrence of NAION. Summarized unadjusted risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs were calculated for the strength of this association. This study was conducted in accordance to Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines and registered in PROSPERO under number CRD42017080865. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The strength of association between PDE5-I use and risk of NAION was assessed through pooled unadjusted RRs and 95% CIs. RESULTS: 5 original articles with 6 clinical observations were included in the meta-analysis. No significant higher risk of NAION was observed after the use of PDE5-Is within a 1-month period (RR = 1.16, 95% CI = 0.98-1.39, P = .09). Subgroup analyses indicated 2 PDE5-Is were significantly related to NAION (tadalafil: RR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.20-3.84, P = .01; sildenafil: RR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.29-3.94, P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Although we found no association between NAION and PDE5-I use, our results…

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