Vardenafil rescue rates of sildenafil nonresponders: objective assessment of 327 patients with erectile dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively investigate whether vardenafil can effectively treat patients for whom sildenafil (100 mg) has failed. The introduction of two new oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (tadalafil and vardenafil) raises the question of whether the new agents will permit us to treat sildenafil nonresponders with another oral agent.


METHODS
Patients were seen at one institution during a 5-year period. A total of 327 patients complaining of sildenafil-refractory erectile dysfunction underwent intracavernous pharmacologic injection and color duplex Doppler ultrasonography. Subsequently 59 of these men tried vardenafil home dosing.


RESULTS
Of the 327 men in whom sildenafil failed, 16% were younger than 50, 21% were 51 to 60, 34% were 61 to 70, and 28% were older than 70 years. The Doppler diagnoses were arterial insufficiency in 154 (47%), mixed vascular insufficiency in 73 (22%), and cavernous venous occlusive disease in 57 (17%). Forty-three men (13%) had normal erectile responses to prostaglandin E1 (10 to 20 microg). Of the 59 men who tried vardenafil, 19% were younger than 50, 17% were 51 to 60, 40% were 61 to 70, and 23% were older than 70 years. The Doppler diagnoses were arterial insufficiency in 28 (42%), mixed vascular insufficiency in 10 (19%), and cavernous venous occlusive disease in 15 (29%). Six men (8%) had normal erectile responses to prostaglandin E1. Only 7 (12%) of the 59 men reported that home vardenafil dosing resulted in successful intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
An appropriate diagnostic evaluation and subsequent treatment algorithm have yet to be established for those for whom phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors fail. We found that most sildenafil nonresponders had severe arterial insufficiency and were older, with 62% older than 60 years. Our preliminary experience suggests that only a small percentage (12%) of sildenafil nonresponders can be salvaged with vardenafil.
Brisson
Theodore E
TE
Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida 32224, USA.
Broderick
Gregory A
GA
Thiel
David D
DD
Heckman
Michael G
MG
Pinkstaff
David M
DM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011687:Purines; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride
D007093:Imidazoles; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate