title: Efficacy and safety of vardenafil in renal transplant recipients with erectile dysfunction.
abstract: Erectile dysfunction (ED) profoundly affects the quality of life. The prevalence of ED in renal transplant recipients is reported by high as 50% to 60%. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of vardenafil in these patients with ED as well as its effects on graft function and on cylosporine or tacrolimus concentrations. Thirty-nine recipients with ED and serum creatinine values<2 mg/dL were treated with vardenafil. ED was assessed using the self-administered International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). ED was diagnosed by using penile color-Doppler ultrasonography and intracavernosal injection. Vardenafil efficacy was assessed by readministering the IIEF questionnaire after 4 weeks of therapy. Serum creatinine levels, creatinine clearances, and cyclosporine/tacrolimus concentrations were measured before and after vardenafil therapy. Twenty-one recipients with ED served as placebo controls and 15 without ED as another control group. The IIEF scores improved from 12.80+/-3.5 to 26.46+/-2.4 in vardenafil-treated patients with ED (P<.001). Renal function and cyclosporine/tacrolimus concentrations did not change with vardenafil therapy. Side effects were observed in 7 (18%) patients: headache in three, palpitations in one, flushing in two, and dyspepsia in one. This study demonstrated that ED improved with vardenafil in renal transplant recipients with ED. For 4 weeks vardenafil therapy was free of side effects. Renal function tests did not change. Also, no dose change in immunosuppressive drugs was required during 4 weeks of verdanafil therapy.
authors.affiliation: Cukurova University, Medical Faculty, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paydas
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sertdemir
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erken
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D003404:Creatinine