Treatment of erectile dysfunction in patients with Peyronie's disease using sildenafil citrate

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) has frequently been associated with Peyronie's Disease (PD) and may further compromise coitus. This is a retrospective analysis of ED in patients with PD since the release of sildenafil citrate (SC) focusing specifically on our patients' responses to SC. One-hundred seventy six patients with PD were evaluated between April 1998 and May 2001. All patients received a complete medical and sexual history, physical exam, penile duplex ultrasound (PDU, with 30–90 mg of papaverine) to assess penile vascular integrity, plaque dimensions, and erect penile deformity. Based on these findings, appropriate treatment options were offered for their PD and their ED including SC, which was offered to 73 men. Patient response to SC was specifically assessed during patient office interview and via a mailed EDITS (Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction) questionnaire. Seventy (39.8%) and 104 (59.1%) patients complained of decreased erectile capacity (ie rigidity) occurring before and after the onset of PD, respectively. Only two patients reported no change of erectile capacity. In all, 103 (58.5%) patients complained of significant reduction in sexual function due to diminished rigidity and sought treatment for their ED. Of the ED treatment options available, 73 (70.9%) patients were given a prescription for SC. Forty-eight (75.0%) patients returned the EDITS questionnaire while four of 73 (5.5%) patients did not fill their prescription and five of 73 (6.8%) did not engage in sexual activity following an initial trial of SC due to side effects (flushing, headaches). Based upon the EDITS response, 34 of 48 (70.8%) patients reported that they were either very satisfied or somewhat satisfied, five of 48 (10.4%) patients were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and nine of 48 (18.8%) patients were somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with the effectiveness of SC in enhancing their erectile response. No patient reported worsening of PD deformity or an increase in penile pain. The 30 patients who were not prescribed SC chose the following options to enhance rigidity: eight (7.8%) underwent prosthesis placement, four (3.9%) opted for vacuum constriction device (VCD), four (3.9%) chose intracorporal injections, and 14 (13.6%) used no adjunctive therapy. Erectile dysfunction is a problem associated with PD and all typical treatment options are acceptable. However, to our knowledge, there is no published study reviewing the efficacy of SC in patients with ED associated with PD. There appears to be no contraindication to using SC as being the least invasive and most convenient treatment option for ED with PD. Although the potential risk of coital trauma to the erect penis with PD is present, there is no evidence from this study that erections and coitus enhanced specifically by SC resulted in worsening deformity or progression of the PD. EDITS questionnaire results reveal that SC is an agent that allowed successful coitus in 70.8% of males with PD.