title: Evaluation of real-time RigiScan monitoring in pharmacological erection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The clinical assessment of pharmacologically induced erectile response was compared to the real-time RigiScan* monitoring response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Erection was induced by 521 intracavernous injections of a new alprostadil formulation. The clinical end point was "full rigidity" and the RigiScan criterion was radial rigidity of 70% or more for 10 consecutive minutes or longer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For 752 prostaglandin E1 injections the sensitivity and specificity of the RigiScan device compared to clinical evaluation were 53.8% (133 of 247 cases) and 92.9% (469 of 505), respectively. For rigidity of 60% or greater the sensitivity increased to 70.8% (175 of 247 cases) and specificity decreased to 85.0% (429 of 505).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RigiScan device is useful to document objectively a pharmacologically induced erection yet it appears to be more conservative than clinical evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
authors.forename: F G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Ogrinc
authors.forename: O I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Linet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000527:Alprostadil