title: Efficacy and safety of oral sildenafil in men with erectile dysfunction and spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of sildenafil in men with spinal cord injury (SCI) and erectile dysfunction (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen men with SCI were selected from February to September 1998 for sildenafil treatment of ED. The initial dose of 25 mg was increased by 25-mg increments as needed. Patients underwent baseline physical examination and answered questions from the abridged International Index of Erectile Function before and during therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen patients tolerated therapy; 1 developed hypotension and discontinued therapy. There was significant improvement in erectile function (P < .05) after 5.3 +/- 2.2 months when compared with baseline or previous therapies (P < .05). Of the 17 patients, 94% recommended sildenafil to others. Six of these 16 patients were available for long-term follow-up. There was further significant improvement in quality of erection (P < .05), but no change in satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sildenafil is effective and well tolerated in men with SCI and ED.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gans
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaslau
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Vapnek
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013450:Sulfones; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate