Current oral treatments for erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain a penile erection adequate for satisfactory sexual intercourse. It is a significant male health problem of global dimensions affecting approximately 150 million men worldwide. A broad range of options are currently available for the management of ED. They include oral agents (phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, dopamine agonists and alpha-receptor blocking drugs), intracavernosal injection (papaverine, phentolamine, prostaglandin E1, vasoactive intestinal peptide), transurethral vasoactive agents (prostaglandin E1), vacuum erection devices, vascular surgery and penile prostheses. Here we review the physiology of penile erection and the currently available oral preparations. In addition, novel therapeutic strategies to improve erectile function are discussed.
Kalsi
J S
JS
The Institute of Urology and Nephrology, University College London, 48 Riding House Street, London, W1P 7NN, UK. j.kalsi@ucl.ac.uk
Cellek
S
S
Muneer
A
A
Kell
P D
PD
Ralph
D J
DJ
Minhas
S
S
D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists; D000071756:Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D000071756:Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase