title: A prostaglandin E1 dose-response study in man.
abstract: Because prostaglandin E1 causes erection by smooth muscle relaxation in a receptor-dependent manner, one would expect increasing dosages to cause a progressively greater response and that, at receptor saturation, further increases would not be beneficial. To test this hypothesis a single-blind, placebo-controlled study of increasing dosages of prostaglandin E1 injected intracavernously was done. In 16 men with vasculogenic impotence erections were monitored by the RigiScan device in real time for 2 hours after injection, and rigidity, tumescence and duration of erection were measured. Summary parameters to characterize erection with each dosage were developed: maximal rigidity, maximal rigidity sustained for 30 minutes and duration of greater than 60% rigidity. The dose-response curve was similar for all 3 parameters. The initial response to escalating doses of prostaglandin E1 from 2.5 to 20 micrograms. demonstrated a steep dose-dependent increase; at greater than 20 micrograms. a plateau was reached, indicating a nonlinear response. More than 80% of the patients attained the maximal response at doses of 20 micrograms. or less and less than 20% benefited from a further increase. Based on these results, the effects of prostaglandin E1 appear to be receptor-dependent and prostaglandin E1 monotherapy for impotence could be limited to 20 micrograms. or less, since larger amounts offer little additional benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von Heyden
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Donatucci
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lue
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000527:Alprostadil