Serum biomarker measurements of endothelial function and oxidative stress after daily dosing of sildenafil in type 2 diabetic men with erectile dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated changes in serum biomarkers of vascular function after short-term, continuous sildenafil dosing in men with type 2 diabetes with erectile dysfunction.


METHODS
Men with erectile dysfunction associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomized to receive continuous, daily sildenafil (50 mg for 1 week run-in and 100 mg for 3 weeks) (148), or placebo (144) for 4 weeks (phase I) and then sildenafil (25, 50 or 100 mg) on demand for 12 weeks (phase II). Blood draws at baseline and after phases I and II were analyzed for cyclic guanosine monophosphate (endothelial function marker), 8-isoprostane (oxidative stress marker), and interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 (inflammatory cytokines). Primary and secondary erectile function outcome variables were affirmative responses on Sexual Encounter Profile question 3 (ability to maintain erection sufficient for sexual intercourse) and Erection Hardness Score, respectively.


RESULTS
Serum cyclic guanosine monophosphate levels were increased in the sildenafil group relative to the placebo group at 4 (p <0.01) and 16 (p <0.05) weeks, correlating with affirmative responses to Sexual Encounter Profile question 3 at the 4-week interval only (p <0.05). Serum 8-isoprostane levels were decreased to a nonsignificant degree in the sildenafil group at 4 weeks with no further change at 16 weeks, whereas interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 levels were unchanged at either interval, and these levels were unassociated with erectile function outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that short-term, continuous sildenafil treatment causes systemic endothelial function to be enhanced and remain so for a duration after its discontinuation. However, they do not indicate any influence of this treatment on systemic oxidative stress or inflammation, or an effect on long-term erectile function improvement.
Burnett
Arthur L
AL
Department of Urology, The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Strong
Travis D
TD
Trock
Bruce J
BJ
Jin
Liming
L
Bivalacqua
Trinity J
TJ
Musicki
Biljana
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000097:blood*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D006152:Cyclic GMP