The effect of sildenafil citrate and pentoxifylline combined treatment in the management of erectile dysfunction.
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.
Ozdal
Ozdem Levent
OL
Department of Urology, Numune Education and Research Hospital, Cevizlidere Mah. 14. Cad. Balgat 12/25, Ankara 06100, Turkey.
Ozden
Cuneyt
C
Gokkaya
Serkan
S
Urgancioglu
Guvenc
G
Aktas
Binhan Kagan
BK
Memis
Ali
A
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*
D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D010431:Pentoxifylline