title: Does sildenafil combined with testosterone gel improve erectile dysfunction in hypogonadal men in whom testosterone supplement therapy alone failed?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the efficacy of testosterone gel (T-gel) alone and in combination with sildenafil in hypogonadal patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 49 hypogonadal men (mean age 60.7 years) with ED participated for a mean of 20.2 months. Blood was tested for total and bioavailable testosterone, and prostate specific antigen. Sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire and a global assessment question (GAQ). Men received 1% 5 gm T-gel for 6 months, and 100 mg sildenafil was added to those with a "no" response to the GAQ after 3 months on testosterone supplement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 31 patients reported significant improvement in the sexual desire domain (from a mean +/- SD of 4.2 +/- 0.8 to 8.6 +/- 0.4) and erectile function (EF) domain (from 13.6 +/- 1.9 to 27 +/- 0.8) following treatment with testosterone supplement alone. One patient was excluded from study after urinary retention developed and 9 reported irritation at the gel application site. In spite of normalization of total and bioavailable testosterone values, and significant improvement of sexual desire domain scores, the EF of 17 men remained less than 26 or they responded "no" to the GAQ. These men received combined T-gel and sildenafil, after which all graded EF greater than 26 and responded positively to the GAQ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined treatment with sildenafil and T-gel has a beneficial effect on ED in hypogonadal patients in whom treatment with testosterone supplement alone failed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. surge04@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greenstein
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Mabjeesh
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sofer
authors.forename: Issac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaver
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matzkin
authors.forename: Juza
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D007006:Hypogonadism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D013739:Testosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D005782:Gels; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D013739:Testosterone; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate