title: [Vardenafil for refractory erectile dysfunction: the latest advances].
abstract: In recent years, more and more attention has been drawn to the role of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) in penile erection. The cyclic nucleotide (cGMP) signaling pathway mediates the smooth-muscle relaxing effect of nitric oxide necessary for normal erectile function. Down-regulation of this pathway is the pathological pivot of many forms of erectile dysfunction (ED) and leads to the development of some chronic diseases. Therapeutic outcomes have shown that vardenafil is effective and safe in the treatment of ED associated with dyslipidemia, hypertension, depression, diabetes, radical retropubic prostatectomy, spinal cord injury, sildenafil failure, renal transplantation, chronic prostatitis and that accompanied by premature ejaculation. Vardenafil provides a reasonable therapeutic alternative for these refractory ED patients. In addition, vardenafil can prolong erectile duration of ED patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction and Genetics, PLA Research Institute of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Nanjing General Hospital of Nanjing Military Region, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, China.
authors.forename: Hao-Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D013450:Sulfones; D014227:Triazines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000069058:Vardenafil Dihydrochloride; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5