Treating erectile dysfunction in renal transplant recipients

Erectile dysfunction is common in male kidney transplant recipients. Interference with the physiology of erections can be attributed to recipient co-morbidities, the renal transplant operation, medication adverse effects, relationship problems and changes in mental health. A treatment-oriented evaluation of erectile dysfunction allows the development of treatment plans that are patient-specific. Hypo-gonadal men whose hormone parameters do not improve after renal transplantation may respond to testosterone replacement therapy. Use of recommended doses of the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil does not significantly modify trough concentrations of the calcineurin inhibitors ciclosporin and tacrolimus or result in impaired renal allograft function. Tacrolimus has been shown to increase the peak concentration and prolong the elimination half-life of sildenafil in kidney transplant recipients. Daily administration of sildenafil has resulted in decreased blood pressure in kidney transplant recipients with treated hypertension and tacrolimus immunosuppression. Intracavernosal injections of alprostadil, with or without papaverine and phentolamine, are effective treatments for erectile dysfunction after renal transplantation and have not resulted in alterations of ciclosporin concentrations or in deterioration of renal function. Penile prostheses can be successfully implanted after pelvic organ transplantation without significant risk of infection.