Treating erectile dysfunction by endothelial rehabilitation with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.
A large body of evidence has accumulated demonstrating that a common pathway in conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction (ED) is endothelial dysfunction. Although a complete pharmacological cure for ED is currently unavailable, the phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors sildenafil, vardenafil, and tadalafil are efficacious oral therapy for ED. Results from recent studies suggest that regular treatment with a PDE5 inhibitor may lead to enhanced erectile function (EF) beyond that observed with on-demand usage, possibly through improvement of endothelial function. Such an effect may be viewed as rehabilitation of damaged erectile tissue. The present review focuses on several recent studies which provide evidence for the beneficial effect of regular PDE5 inhibitor administration on the improvement of EF by rehabilitation of vascular endothelium.
Sommer
Frank
F
Department of Men's Health and Clinic of Urology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, P.O. Box 202101, 20214, Hamburg, Germany. Frank.Sommer@men-and-health.info
Schulze
Wolfgang
W
D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D012307:Risk Factors
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human