title: The effect of sildenafil citrate and pentoxifylline combined treatment in the management of erectile dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of sildenafil and pentoxifylline combined therapy in the treatment of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight patients with various degrees and types of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction were included in the study. The patients were recommended to take oral sildenafil (minimum two 50-mg tablets/week) 1 h prior to sexual intercourse for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of washout period, patients were recommended to take combined therapy (minimum two 50-mg tablets/week sildenafil 1 h prior to sexual intercourse and 1.2 g of pentoxifylline/day divided into three doses) for an additional 4-week period. Both treatment regimes were evaluated with the international index of erectile function (IIEF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean IIEF score was higher after sildenafil treatment when compared to pre-treatment score (14.2+/-4.3 and 8.6+/-4.2, respectively, P<0.05). Likewise after the combination treatment, mean IIEF score was higher when compared to pre-treatment score (18.1+/-5.2 and 8.6+/-3.8, respectively, P<0.05). The increase in the IIEF score was 5.62+/-2.08 in the sildenafil only group whereas increase in the IIEF score was 9.51+/-3.77 in the combination therapy group. There was a statistically significant increase in the combination group when compared to the sildenafil only group (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that use of sildenafil citrate and pentoxifylline combined therapy could be effective in the management of patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Cevizlidere Mah. 14. Cad. Balgat 12/25, Ankara 06100, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozdem Levent
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Ozdal
authors.forename: Cuneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozden
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gokkaya
authors.forename: Guvenc
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Urgancioglu
authors.forename: Binhan Kagan
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Memis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D010431:Pentoxifylline