¹Urology Unit, Belgrano Hospital, San Martín, Prov. Buenos Aires, Argentina

²Endocrinology Division, Durand Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina

³Andrology Section, Endocrinology Division, Durand Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Correspondence to: C Terradas, División Endocrinología, Hospital Durand, Díaz Vélez 5044, (1405) Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: cterradas@intramed.net.ar

We studied the effects of sildenafil on nocturnal penile erections. We prospectively evaluated 36 patients with organic or psychogenic impotence and 5 normal, potent men. All patients completed 3 sessions of consecutive nights using the RigiScan Plus device. The first two nights the patients were asked to take placebo before the session and to take 50 mg of sildenafil before the third session. In the organic impotence group the use of sildenafil induced a significant improvement in time of rigidity 60-100%, rigidity and tumescence activity unit values and rigidity and tumescence activity unit values per hour in the tip and base. In the psychogenic impotence group it caused significant improvement only in rigidity activity unit per hour in the tip. In the potent men, changes were statistically insignificant. Sildenafil improves nocturnal penile erectile activity in organic impotence. Our study shows that phosphodiesterase inhibitors can improve penile erections not induced by sexual stimulation.

International Journal of Impotence Research (2001) 13, 125-129

penis; penile erection; erectile dysfunction; sildenafil