QUALITY-OF-LIFE IN PATIENTS USING SELF-ADMINISTERED INTRACAVERNOUS INJECTIONS OF PROSTAGLANDIN-E1 FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Purpose: We assessed changes in quality of life after 6 months of self -injections of prostaglandin E1 for the treatment of erectile dysfunct ion. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was done at a universi ty affiliated Veterans Affairs medical center of patients using prosta glandin E1 at home. Quality of life was assessed with the Case Western Reserve University sexual functioning questionnaire and the Duke heal th profile. These questionnaires were administered before initiation a nd after 6 months of prostaglandin E1 therapy. Results: Of 16 subjects injecting prostaglandin E1 at home 15 completed 6 months of therapy, and 13 of them completed both questionnaires. While using prostaglandi n E1 we found an increase in the frequency of sexual activity from 2.9 to 5.5 times during the prior month (p=0.01), rigidity of erection sc ores from 3.8 to 7.6 (p=0.002, score 0-no erection to 8-full erection) and sexual satisfaction scores from 2.5 to 4.1 (p=0.03, score 0-extre mely unsatisfied to 5-extremely satisfied). We also found improvements in mental health scores from 80.0 to 92.3 (p=0.007), social health sc ores from 61.5 to 80.8 (p=0.004) and self-esteem scores from 72.3 to 8 6.9 (p=0.01) on a scale of 0 to 100, where a higher score indicates be tter health. Conclusions: Self-injection of prostaglandin E1 improves sexual satisfaction and quality of life in men with erectile dysfuncti on.