[PGE1 program in erectile dysfunction: etiopathogenic and pharmacologic aspects]

Since Ishii et al.2 first described in 1986 the use of PGE1 in erectile dysfunction, a number of studies have been conducted using this vasoactive drug. Use in self-injecting programs, without additional drugs associated due to the ease of use and minimal complications, is currently becoming increasingly common as the choice therapy for erectile dysfunction. The paper analyzes our series of 66 patients included in self-injecting programs with PGE1 with no other drugs associated. Follow-up time has been 9.8 months (1-39). Mean age of our patients was 55. Our larger etiological groups were vascular (42%), diabetic (19%) and psychological (21%) patients. Dose increase over time has been significant in vascular and diabetic patients relative to the other groups. It has been found that program compliance has basically depended on the severity of the causative disease, which was significant in vascular and diabetic patients. Local complications have been: pain (19.6%), prolonged erection (3%), and priapism (1.5%).