title: Chronic sildenafil in men with diabetes and erectile dysfunction.
abstract: Erectile dysfunction frequently represents a neurovascular complication of diabetes mellitus, and it has been calculated that almost 50% of diabetic men will have erectile dysfunction within 6 years after diagnosis. Penile endothelial and smooth muscle cell dysfunction are due to molecular pathway abnormalities (i.e., activation of PKC, increased oxidative stress and overproduction of advanced-glycosylation end products). The response rate to oral drug therapies, such as sildenafil, is lower than in most other groups. Because therapeutic alternatives (i.e., intracavernous injections with vasoactive agents) are not curative, clinical trials aimed to demonstrate rehabilitative effects with daily phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors are ongoing. If this approach proves successful, it will determine many advantages over the intracavernosal treatment and potentially induce sexual rehabilitation.
authors.affiliation: University of Rome La Sapienza, Dept of Medical Pathophysiology, Viale Policlinico 155 - 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aversa
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bruzziches
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marazzi
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Francomano
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbaro
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spera
authors.forename: Giuseppe M C
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rosano
mesh_terms: D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human