PHOSPHODIESTERASE INHIBITORS IN THE TREATMENT OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Based on knowledge of intracellular signal propagation in cavernous sm ooth muscle tone regulation and the development of new and selective p harmacological agents, selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors we re recently introduced for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. By m olecular biological methods, PDE isoenzymes lit, IV and V were charact erized in the human cavernous smooth muscles. In functional organ bath studies using precontracted human cavernous tissue strips, PDE III an d V inhibitors showed the most pronounced relaxant responses. In clini cal studies, the use of the orally active PDE V inhibitor sildenafil i nduced a pronounced and significant erectogenic effect in patients wit h both predominantly psychogenic and organogenic etiology of erectile dysfunction. The first promising clinical data on the use of an orally active PDE inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction are we ll supported by consistent basic science findings. Further research wi ll possibly allow to identify diagnostic tools for erectile dysfunctio n and for even more selective drugs in its therapy. (C) 1998 Prous Sci ence. All rights reserved.