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Topical prostaglandin E1 SEPA gel for the treatment of erectile dysfunction
K T McVary1, S Polepalle, S Riggi
1Department of Urology, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Purpose:
We compare the systemic effects, local tolerance and effectiveness of topical gel formulations on the penis containing alprostadil (prostaglandin E1) plus 5% SEPA versus SEPA alone (placebo) in men with erectile dysfunction.
Materials And Methods:
Erectile response, skin discomfort and erythema were measured in 48 men with erectile dysfunction secondary to vascular, neurogenic, psychogenic or mixed etiologies in this single-blind, placebo controlled trial.
Results:
Application of prostaglandin E1 gel correlated positively with erectile response as 67 to 75% of patients had an erection compared to 17% of controls (p<0.001). Blood pressure and heart rate varied minimally. No serious adverse effects were observed in the 48 patients, although the majority had skin discomfort.
Conclusions:
Topical prostaglandin E1 gel applied to the penis appears to be safe, and facilitates audiovisual and tactile stimulation resulting in an erection when given in a clinic setting. Consequences to the female partner remain unknown.