Evaluation of real-time RigiScan monitoring in pharmacological erection.
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.
Ogrinc
F G
FG
Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.
Linet
O I
OI
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
D000527:Alprostadil