limaprost and Erectile-Dysfunction

The effect of oral prostaglandin E1 (limaprost) on erectile function was studied in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. Fifty one patients who agreed to participate were examined for their subjective symptoms and nocturnal erection was recorded using an erectometer at the beginning of the study, after an initial 6 week period, and again after a second 6 week period. Patients were randomly assigned to a group which received placebo followed by limaprost or to a group which received limaprost followed by placebo. Ten cases dropped out. In the remaining forty one patients, NPT during the limaprost phase was significantly different from that during the placebo phase. Patients with the history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, or pelvic surgery showed relatively poor responses to oral prostaglandin E1. Oral prostaglandin E1 achieved 42.9% effectiveness in the psychogenic impotence, and this effectiveness is significantly higher than that of placebo. Oral prostaglandin E1 was suggested as an additional or alternative therapy in the management of psychogenic impotence. Psychogenic impotent who didn't respond to sex therapy and patients with slight organic causes would seem to benefit from oral prostaglandin treatment.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Alprostadil; Double-Blind Method; Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Male; Middle Aged

To investigate the effect of limaprost, an oral prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) derivative, on erectile dysfunction and to compare the effects of limaprost with a Chinese herbal drug, gosyajinki-gan.. The study comprised 50 consecutive patients with mild erectile dysfunction who showed a good erectile response to intracavernosal injection with 20 micrograms of PGE1. Limaprost was administered to the first 25 patients (30 micrograms three times daily) and gosyajinki-gan (7.5 g three times daily) to the next 25 patients, for 8 consecutive weeks. Patients were evaluated by their ability to achieve vaginal penetration and by a subjective assessment of erectile function (penile rigidity and maintenance of erection) before and after the treatment, using a self-administered questionnaire. Objective measurements (nocturnal penile tumescence, NPT, values) were also evaluated.. Eleven of the 24 patients who received limaprost without interruption and four of the 24 taking gosyajinki-gan succeeded in vaginal penetration; the difference in the positive response rate was significant. The mean increment of NPT was significantly higher with limaprost treatment. However, all positive responders in both groups did not experience a full erection. There were no side-effects in any patient except one in the limaprost group who developed a facial flush. Thus the treatment was mild enough to be tolerated.. Limaprost was more effective for mild erectile dysfunction than was gosyajinki-gan.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Alprostadil; Coitus; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Erectile Dysfunction; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Treatment Outcome; Vasodilator Agents