Hemodynamic effect of avanafil and glyceryl trinitrate coadministration

Princeton IV consensus guidelines: PDE5 inhibitors and cardiac health

BACKGROUND

In 1999, 1 year after the approval of the first oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), the first Princeton Consensus Conference was held to address the clinical management of men with ED who also had cardiovascular disease. These issues were readdressed in the second and third conferences. In the 13 years since the last Princeton Consensus Conference, the experience with PDE5 inhibitors is more robust, and recent new data have emerged regarding not only safety and drug-drug interactions, but also a potential cardioprotective effect of these drugs.

AIM

In March 2023, an interdisciplinary group of scientists and practitioners met for the fourth Princeton Consensus Guidelines at the Huntington Medical Research Institutes in Pasadena, California, to readdress the cardiovascular workup of men presenting with ED as well as the approach to treatment of ED in men with known cardiovascular disease.

METHOD

A series of lectures from experts in the field followed by Delphi-type discussions were developed to reach consensus.

OUTCOMES

Consensus was reached regarding a number of issues related to erectile dysfunction and the interaction with cardiovascular health and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors.

RESULTS

An algorithm based on recent recommendations of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, including the use of computed tomography coronary artery calcium scoring, was integrated into the evaluation of men presenting with ED. Additionally, the issue of nitrate use was further considered in an algorithm regarding the treatment of ED patients with coronary artery disease. Other topics included the psychological effect of ED and the benefits of treating it; the mechanism of action of the PDE5 inhibitors; drug-drug interactions; optimizing use of a PDE5 inhibitors; rare adverse events; potential cardiovascular benefits observed in recent retrospective studies; adulteration of dietary supplements with PDE5 inhibitors; the pros and cons of over-the-counter PDE5 inhibitors; non-PDE5 inhibitor therapy for ED including restorative therapies such as stem cells, platelet-rich plasma, and shock therapy; other non-PDE5 inhibitor therapies, including injection therapy and penile prostheses; the issue of safety and effectiveness of PDE5 inhibitors in women; and recommendations for future studies in the field of sexual dysfunction and PDE5 inhibitor use were discussed.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Algorithms and tables were developed to help guide the clinician in dealing with the interaction of ED and cardiovascular risk and disease.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

Strengths include the expertise of the participants and consensus recommendations. Limitations included that participants were from the United States only for this particular meeting.

CONCLUSION

The issue of the intersection between cardiovascular health and sexual health remains an important topic with new studies suggesting the cardiovascular safety of PDE5 inhibitors.

The Efficacy and Safety of Avanafil During a Treatment of Male Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Purpose

Erectile dysfunction (ED) contributes to a large burden and impairs the quality of life among males. Avanafil appears to be a promising treatment for ED; however, its efficacy and safety profile remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of avanafil for the treatment of ED.

Patients and Methods

An extensive search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Embase databases with 11 publications was performed, with outcomes evaluated are International Index of Erectile Function - Erectile Function (IIEF-EF), Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP), and Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events (TEAE). Statistical parameter Mean Difference (MD) and Risk Ratio (RR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were used to measure effect size.

Results

The pooled estimates demonstrated that changes in IIEF-EF function (MD=4.39, 95% CI [3.41, 5.37], p<0.001), SEP-2 (RR=3.43, 95% CI [2.79, 4.22], p<0.001), SEP-3 (RR=2.30, 95% CI [2.01, 2.62], p<0.001), and TEAE (RR=1.49, 95% CI [1.12, 1.96], p=0.005) were significantly higher in the avanafil group than in the placebo group. Moreover, 200 mg avanafil was superior to that mg 100 mg-avanafil, indicated by the IIEF-EF score (MD=-1.15, 95% CI [-1.40, -0.89], p<0.001). In contrary, there were no significant differences in SEP-2 (RR=0.90, 95% CI [0.75, 1.08], p=0.26), SEP-3 (RR=0.92, 95% CI [0.81, 1.05], p=0.21) and TEAE (RR=1.00, 95% CI [0.87, 1.15], p=0.99) for both 100 mg and 200 mg doses.

Conclusion

This review highlights the potential use of this drug in ED treatment. Further large-scale Randomized Controlled Trials investigations involving various racial groups are required to confirm these findings.

The placebo and nocebo effects in functional urology

A placebo is an inert substance normally used in clinical trials for comparison with an active substance. However, a placebo has been shown to have an effect on its own; commonly known as the placebo effect. A placebo is an essential component in the design of conclusive clinical trials but has itself become the focus of intense research. The placebo effect is partly the result of positive expectations of the recipient on the state of health. Conversely, a nocebo effect is when negative expectations from a substance lead to poor treatment outcomes and/or adverse events. Randomized controlled trials in functional urology have demonstrated the importance of the placebo and nocebo effects across different diseases such as overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, lower urinary tract symptoms and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, as well as male and female sexual dysfunction. Understanding the true nature of the placebo-nocebo complex and the scope of its effect in functional urology could help urologists to maximize the positive effects of this phenomenon while minimizing its potentially negative effects.

Avanafil for the Treatment of men With Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Previous studies have reported the clinical efficacy of avanafil for erectile dysfunction (ED), but these findings are controversial. This study aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of avanafil for ED. EMBASE, PubMed, and Cochrane Library were searched extensively to obtain eligible studies. Clinical outcomes including successful vaginal penetration (SVP), successful intercourse (SI), International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function domain (IIEF-EF) score and treatment adverse events (TAEs) were compared using RevMan v.5.3. Eight RCTs involving 3,709 patients were included. The analysis demonstrated that compared with placebo, the SVP (RR = 3.20, 95% CI [2.60, 3.95], p < .001), SI (RR = 2.53, 95% CI [2.19, 2.92], p < .001), change in IIEF-EF score (MD = 4.57, 95% CI [3.68, 5.46], p < .001) and TAEs (RR = 1.78, 95% CI [1.38, 2.31], p < .0001) were significantly higher in the avanafil. In addition, avanafil 200 mg were higher than avanafil 100 mg in SI (RR = 0.86, 95% CI [0.75, 0.99], p = .03) and change in IIEF-EF score (MD = -1.34, 95% CI [-1.67, -1.01], p < .001), but there were no obvious differences in SVP (RR = 0.89; 95% CI [0.74, 1.08], p = .23) and TAEs (RR = 0.97, 95% CI [0.83, 1.14], p = .74) between the two doses. The present evidence suggests that avanafil (especially 200 mg) has the potential to be the drug of choice for ED, but more strict and larger sample size RCTs are need to validate the findings.

The blue pill (sildenafil) and its descendants: an overview

An increasing number of men around the world suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED). Indeed, according to the sexuality study conducted by Professor Izdebski, 1 out of 10 men in Poland suffers from ED. The problem is found among men of any age, however, 60% of all patients are between 40 and 60 years old, thus in their prime, and who still want to fully enjoy life. Not only do the effects of ED affect a man, but they have influence on his relationship and partner as well. In spite of a growing awareness within society, the problem remains perceived as embarrassing, which leads patients to treat themselves on their own, delaying a visit to their doctors. Meanwhile, in many cases, ED may be the first symptom of more serious diseases, such as diabetes, or result from the sideeffects of applied drugs. A breakthrough in the oral medication treatment of ED was observed when a new phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE-5-inhibitor) - sildenafil citrate (Viagra®) - was introduced. Nowadays, 5 active substances from this group are being applied. The current medical guidelines recommend PDE-5 inhibitors as the firstline therapy for most men with ED, irrespective of the cause and severity of the disease. Recently, sildenafil at the dose of 25 mg came into the market without prescription. This paper presents an overview and update of the PDE-5 inhibitors.

The devil is in the details: an analysis of the subtleties between phosphodiesterase inhibitors for erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual disorder with numerous etiologies involving multiple organ systems that leads to significant distress and decreased quality of life for the affected men. Fortunately, there are several modalities and interventions for treating ED. Oral medications, intra-urethral compounds, intracorporeal injections, vacuum-assist devices and surgically implanted prostheses are all part of the treatment algorithm. One of the first-lines and certainly the most widely used options for treating ED is the family of oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5I). The introduction of these medications in the late 1990s revolutionized the field of sexual medicine. Currently there are no guidelines and minimal literature to help providers choose among drugs in this class. This review will address differences in efficacy and side effects between various members of the oral selective phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor class of drugs.

Avanafil for erectile dysfunction in elderly and younger adults: differential pharmacology and clinical utility

The treatment modalities of erectile dysfunction range from oral pharmacotherapy to intracavernosal injections, intraurethral pellets, vacuum erectile devices, and the surgical option of penile prosthesis insertion. Oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors still remain the preferred treatment for patients since they are the least invasive, not to mention that they can be prescribed by non-urologists. Due to these factors, there has been development of newer drugs with fewer side effects. This is a review of the second generation phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, avanafil, looking into its pharmacology as well as its clinical utility. Avanafil’s faster onset and shorter duration of action has made it preferred as compared to other PDE5 inhibitors for patients with multiple comorbidities.