PROSTAGLANDIN-E1 VERSUS MIXTURE OF PROSTAGLANDIN-E1, PAPAVERINE AND PHENTOLAMINE IN NONRESPONDERS TO HIGH PAPAVERINE PLUS PHENTOLAMINE DOSES

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of 40 mu g./ml. prostaglandin E1 ve rsus a combination of 17.64 mg./ml. papaverine hydrochloride, 0.58 mg. /ml. phentolamine mesylate and 5.8 mu g./ml. prostaglandin E1 (3-drug mixture). Materials and Methods: A total of 32 patients randomly recei ved 1 ml. of either medication by the intracavernous route. All patien ts had presented with erectile dysfunction longer than 6 months in dur ation and had failed to respond to high doses of papaverine (60 mg.) p lus phentolamine (1 mg.). Results: Of 32 patients 7 (22%) responded to prostaglandin E1 and 16 (50%) to the S-drug mixture, achieving erecti ons allowing penetration (grade E4 or E5, p <0.05). Pain was reported by 41% of the patients receiving prostaglandin E1 and by 12.5% adminis tered the 3-drug mixture. Conclusions: The 3-drug mixture may be regar ded as more effective than prostaglandin E1 alone in inducing an erect ile response with a decreased incidence of pain.