COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF PAPAVERINE PLUS PHENTOLAMINE VERSUS PROSTAGLANDIN-E1 IN ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Purpose: We compared the efficacy and short-term adverse effects of 1 ml. 30 mg./ml. papaverine plus 0.5 mg./ml. phentolamine versus 1 ml. 3 0 mu g./ml. prostaglandin E1 in patients undergoing pharmacological er ection testing. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients (mean ag e 58 years) with a history of sexual erectile dysfunction longer than 6 months was randomly classified into 6 groups to be tested 1 week apa rt with the 2 solutions and with placebo to evaluate erection response and short-term adverse effects. Results: Of the patients tested with papaverine plus phentolamine 54% responded with erections adequate for penetration, compared to 50% of those tested with prostaglandin E1 (p >0.05). Prolonged erection occurred in 18% of patients tested with pa paverine plus phentolamine and 15% of those tested with prostaglandin E1 (p >0.05). Pain was reported by 15 and 35% of patients, respectivel y (p <0.05). Conclusions: One mi. 30 mg./ml. papaverine plus 0.5 mg./m l. phentolamine has the same efficacy and equal prolonged erection rat e as 1 mi. 30 mu g./ml. prostaglandin E1 but the latter agent induces significantly more pain.