Improvement in sexual quality of life of the female partner following vardenafil treatment of men with erectile dysfunction: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

INTRODUCTION

Erectile dysfunction (ED) impacts on both members of the couple. Female partners of men with ED are more likely to report reduced sexual quality of life than women whose partners do not have ED.

AIM

To assess vardenafil efficacy in men with ED and determine the effects of treatment on their female partner's sexual quality of life.

METHODS

Study participants comprised men aged 18-64 years with ED and their female partners. Eligible men had ED of ≥6 months' duration and a female partner who was motivated to support their ED treatment. Eligible women had a total Female Sexual Function Index score >23.55, indicating absence of significant sexual dysfunction. Following a 4-week screening period, men were randomized to treatment with vardenafil 10 mg or placebo, which could be titrated to 20 or 5 mg after 4 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES

Primary efficacy variables were question 3 of the Sexual Encounter Profile questionnaire (SEP3) and the quality-of-life domain of the modified Sexual Life Quality Questionnaire (mSLQQ-QOL).

RESULTS

The intent-to-treat population included 343 couples, with 168 and 175 men receiving vardenafil or placebo, respectively. Vardenafil treatment significantly improved both erection maintenance and the female partners' sexual quality of life. Least squares (LS) mean SEP3 overall success rates after 12 weeks of treatment were 9.5 (baseline) vs. 67.2 (week 12) and 12.4 (baseline) vs. 24.2 (week 12) in the vardenafil and placebo groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). In female partners, LS mean mSLQQ-QOL scores were 28.8 (baseline) vs. 68.2 (last observation carried forward [LOCF]) in the vardenafil group and 24.6 (baseline) vs. 40.5 (LOCF) in the placebo group (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Vardenafil treatment of men with ED improved both their erectile function and the sexual quality of life of their female partners.

[Effectiveness and treatment satisfaction in patients with erectile dysfunction in Spain: EDOS study]

INTRODUCTION

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a worldwide health problem with an ever increasing prevalence, affecting the quality of life of many patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction with ED treatment in the Spanish cohort of the EDOS study.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This observational, pan-European study, assessed treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction with ED treatment under routine clinical settings, using standard questionnaires. Men > or =18 years about to initiate or change ED treatment were enrolled. Patients were assessed at baseline, 3 and 6 months.

RESULTS

A total of 1,029 patients were analyzed (12.8% of the total European sample). In general, the Spanish population characteristics are consistent with the overall population. At baseline 56.6% of patients received tadalafilo, 16.6% sildenafilo, 19.6% vardenafilo, and 7.2% received other treatments. At 3 months, a higher proportion of patients on tadalafil reported improved erections (GAQ 1: 96.5% tadalafil, 85.7% sildenafil and 87.2% vardenafil), satisfaction with treatment (EDITS: 84.2% tadalafil, 75.0% sildenafil and 76.0% vardenafil), and sexual self confidence (SF-PAIRS: 2.73 tadalafil, 2.39 sildenafil and 2.55 vardenafil), in comparison with sildenafil and vardenafil. At 6 months, differences between treatments were not significant. The mean+/-SD time elapsed from drug intake to sexual intercourse was higher for patients on tadalafil (18.6+/-26.4 h) compared to sildenafil (3.6+/-7.5) and vardenafil (8.6+/-19.4).

CONCLUSION

The longer duration of action for tadalafil, and thus, the longer period of time between dosing and sexual intercourse may contribute to enhance sexual spontaneity, patient satisfaction with the treatment and greater self-confidence.

[Development and psychometric validation of a new screening questionnaire for erectile dysfunction (SQUED questionnaire)]

BACKGROUND

It is necessary to have simple tools to screen erectile dysfunction (ED) in an easy, reliable and valid manner. The objective of this study was to develop and validate a short diagnostic questionnaire for erectile dysfunction [SQUED), easy to use in the primary care setting.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

The development of SQUED included: concepts identification, item generation and evaluation of contents and face validity through interviews with subjects to assess comprehension and idiomatic adequacy. The psychometric validation was conducted in an epidemiologic, observational, comparative and multicenter study. Participants should complete the questionnaire in primary care setting and send to the specialist to confirm the diagnosis by an in depth interview and the application of IIEF questionnaire. Internal consistency, test-retest reliability and sensitivity and specificity of SQUED was evaluated.

RESULTS

Out of 405 subjects enrolled, 316 (208 ED and 108 non-ED) were evaluable. The SQUED questionnaire showed a high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92) and a good test-retest reliability (Kappa index = 0.77). Furthermore, the questionnaire showed a good diagnostic capacity with high values of sensitivity and specificity, 0.87 and 0.78, respectively, in relation to the diagnosis made by urologists. The cutting point was established at a score of 12.

DISCUSSION

The SQUED questionnaire is a simple, easy to use and reliable instrument. It can become a useful tool, and the shortest validated, for primary care physicians to easily screen for ED patients. Its simplicity should facilitate an easy cultural adaptation and validation into other languages.

[Efficacy and safety of two dosing regimens with Tadalafil in Spanish men with erectile dysfunction: results from the SURE study in 14 European countries]

OBJECTIVE

[corrected] To compare the efficacy and safety of tadalafil 20 mg administered 3 times/week (SCH) vs. on demand (OD) in a cohort of Spanish men with erectile dysfunction (ED), since Tadalafil period of responsiveness lasts up to 36 hours post-dosing.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The 418 Spanish patients participating in the European multicenter, crossover, open-label SURE clinical trial (comprising 4262 men) were randomly assigned to one of the treatment sequences: tadalafil 20 mg SCH for 5-6 weeks followed by tadalafil 20 mg OD for 5-6 weeks, or the inverse sequence. At completion, patients were asked to select the regimen they preferred to receive in an extension phase.

RESULTS

In both regimens, tadalafil led to a similar improvement in erectile function compared to baseline. However, the SCH regimen showed statistically significant higher scores for several IIEF questions (i.e. sexual desire domain). Normal erectile function (IIEF EF domain score > or = 26) was achieved by 69.3% of patients on SCH and 64.3 % on OD, with a sexual intercourse success rate (SEP3) of 75.6% and 72.2% respectively (p<0.05). Nevertheless, more patients preferred to receive tadalafil OD for the extension phase (55.9% vs 44.1%, p<0.05). Tadalafil was well tolerated in both regimens. The most common TEAEs (> or = 5%) were headache, dyspepsia and back pain. There were no clinically significant differences in the incidence of TEAEs between regimens.

CONCLUSIONS

Tadalafil 20 mg is efficacious and well tolerated for the treatment of ED, regardless the regimen of administration (OD or SCH). Patients can choose the pattern of administration that fits better with their expectations.

Enhanced Thromboxane Receptor-Mediated Responses and Impaired Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Human Corpus Cavernosum from Diabetic Impotent Men: Role of Protein Kinase C Activity

We have evaluated the influence of protein kinase C (PKC) activity on penile smooth muscle tone in tissues from diabetic and nondiabetic men with erectile dysfunction. Human corpus cavernosum (HCC) strips were obtained from impotent diabetic and nondiabetic men at the time of penile prosthesis implantation and studied in organ chambers. Contractility responses to a prostanoid precursor, to prostanoids, and to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine were studied. Arachidonic acid (AA; 100 microM) caused cyclooxygenase-dependent relaxation of HCC. This relaxation was impaired in diabetic tissues and normalized by blocking thromboxane (TP) receptors with 20 nM [1S-[1alpha,2alpha(Z),3alpha,4alpha]]-7-[3-[[2-[(phenylamino)carbonyl]hydrazino]methyl]-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]-5-heptenoic acid (SQ29548). Diabetes did not affect prostaglandin (PG)E(1)-induced relaxation, but it reduced relaxation induced by the PGE(1) metabolite PGE(0). This effect was related to an interaction of PGE(0) with TP receptors. Diabetic tissues had reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation, which was partially improved by SQ29548 and completely normalized by the PKC inhibitor 3-[1-[3-(dimethylaminopropyl]-1H-indol-3-yl]-4-(1H-indol-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione monohydrochloride (GF109203X; 1 microM). In HCC from nondiabetic patients, treatment with the PKC activator phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (0.3 microM) significantly attenuated endothelium-dependent relaxation, an effect prevented by coadministration of GF109203X. Tissues from diabetic patients had enhanced sensitivity to the contractile effects of the TP receptor agonist 9,11-dideoxy-9alpha,11alpha-epoxymethano PGF(2alpha) (U46619) (EC(50) = 0.65 +/- 0.42 and 6.01 +/- 2.28 nM in diabetic and nondiabetic patients, respectively). Inhibition of PKC with 1 microM GF109203X, prevented diabetes-induced hypersensitivity to U46619-induced contractions (EC(50) = 8.55 +/- 3.12 microM). Overactivity of PKC in diabetes is responsible for enhanced contraction and reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation of HCC smooth muscle. Such alterations can result in erectile dysfunction.

Core document on erectile dysfunction: key aspects in the care of a patient with erectile dysfunction

The aim of this Core Document of the Spanish Consensus on Erectile dysfunction (ED) is to offer guidance to the nonspecialist physician in the management of patients with ED. ED is one of the most frequent chronic health problems in men older than 40 y of age and may also act as a sentinel symptom for other important underlying diseases. Its etiology can be classified into organic, psychogenic, or mixed. In most cases, the underlying cause of ED is usually a chronic health problem (such as diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and so on) or an adverse drug effect. The initial step in the management is to assess erectile function in patients with risk factors for ED. Once ED has been established, a detailed sexual, medical, and social history, including a review of medications used, is the most important aspect of a patient's assessment. Generally, examination should be limited to the cardiovascular, neurological, and urogenital systems. Fasting glucose and blood lipid profile should be performed in every man with ED, and free testosterone levels in men older than 50 y or if hypogonadism is suspected; other diagnostic tests are optional and should be requested on an individualized basis. In many cases, the most likely cause of ED can be identified based on the above information. Therapeutic intervention should be patient-oriented and based on the expectations and wishes of the patient and his partner, who should be included in discussions whenever possible. Basic interventions common to any type of ED include sexual counseling, lifestyle modifications, treatment of associated medical conditions, and switching to alternative drugs with lower risk of ED. In certain cases, an etiologic treatment may be performed (sex therapy, revascularization surgery, and hormonal therapy). Most patients with ED will benefit from symptomatic treatments; first-line therapy may be prescribed by physicians who are not specialists in ED, and includes oral agents such as inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5, currently considered the drugs of choice for initial treatment of ED. Intracavernous drugs are the second-line therapy, and surgical treatments, such as implantation of penile prostheses, are reserved for urologists/andrologists who specialize in ED. Referral may be appropriate where indicated by age, clinical findings, or the patient's request.

Diabetes impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of human penile vascular tissues mediated by NO and EDHF

Standard treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED) (i.e., PDE5 inhibitors) are less effective in diabetic patients for unknown reasons. Endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) of human corpus cavernosum (HCC) depends on nitric oxide (NO), while in human penile resistance arteries (HPRA) endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) and NO participate. Here we show that diabetes significantly reduced EDR induced by acetylcholine (ACh) in HCC and HPRA. Relaxation attributed to EDHF was also impaired in HPRA from diabetic patients. The PDE5 inhibitor, sildenafil (10nM), reversed diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction in HCC, but not in HPRA. Calcium dobesilate (DOBE; 10 microM) fully reversed diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction in HPRA by specifically potentiating the EDHF-mediated component of EDR. Impairment by diabetes of NO and EDHF-dependent responses precluded the complete recovery of endothelial function in HPRA by sildenafil. This could explain the poor clinical response to PDE5 inhibitors of diabetic men with ED and suggests that a pharmacological approach that combines enhancement of NO/cGMP and EDHF pathways could be necessary to treat ED in many diabetic men.

Male erectile dysfunction and health-related quality of life

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this work was to assess the health-related quality of life factors associated with erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODS

2476 non-institutionalised Spanish males, age ranging from 25 to 70 years, were interviewed. ED was defined using two instruments: a simple self-assessment question (ED-sq) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured through the SF-36 questionnaire.

RESULTS

The severity of ED (measured both through the ED-sq and with the IIEF) increased as the scores of the scales of the SF-36 decreased (Mantel-Hänszel chi(2)-test statistic range: [26-305]; p<0.001). The two summary components (physical and mental) showed a downward trend, more for the physical than for the mental component.

CONCLUSION

We found a clear pattern of negative association between self-perceived erectile dysfunction and HRQoL. This association was clearer when ED-sq (rather than IIEF) was used, and stronger for the physical summary component than for the mental one.

Activation and potentiation of the NO/cGMP pathway by NG-hydroxyl-L-arginine in rabbit corpus cavernosum under normoxic and hypoxic conditions and ageing

1 When nitric oxide synthase (NOS) produces NO from N(G)-hydroxy-L-arginine (OH-arginine) instead of L-arginine, the total requirement of molecular oxygen and NADPH to form NO is reduced. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of OH-arginine on the contractility of rabbit corpus cavernosum (RCC) and to compare the capacities of L-arginine and OH-arginine to enhance NO-mediated responses under normoxic and hypoxic conditions and in ageing, as models of defective NO production. 2 OH-arginine, but not L-arginine, was able to relax phenylephrine-contracted rabbit trabecular smooth muscle. OH-arginine-induced relaxation was inhibited by the NOS-inhibitor, L-NNA (300 microM), and by the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, ODQ (20 microM), while it was not affected by the cytochrome P450 oxygenase inhibitor, miconazole (0.1 mM). Administration of OH-arginine, but not L-arginine, produced a significant increment of cGMP accumulation in RCC tissue. 3 Relaxation elicited by OH-arginine (300 microM) was still observed at low oxygen tension. The increase of cGMP levels induced by ACh (30 microM) in RCC was significantly enhanced by addition of OH-arginine (300 microM) in normoxic conditions, as well as under hypoxia, while L-arginine did not alter the effects of ACh on cGMP accumulation. 4 Endothelium-dependent and nitrergic nerve-mediated relaxations were both significantly reduced in RCC from aged animals (>20-months-old) when compared with young adult rabbits (5-months-old). Treatment with OH-arginine (300 microM) significantly potentiated endothelium-dependent and neurogenic relaxation in corpus cavernosum from aged rabbits, while L-arginine (300 microM) did not have significant effects. 5 Results show that OH-arginine promotes NO-mediated relaxation of RCC and potentiates the NO-mediated responses induced by stimulation of endogenous NO generation in hypoxic and aged tissues. We propose that the use of OH-arginine could be of interest in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, at least in those secondary to defective NO production.

Effective treatment of erectile dysfunction with vardenafil

Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 are playing a large role in the revolution in the treatment of sexual dysfunction that has taken place in recent years. The revolution was launched in 1998 with the introduction of a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, sildenafil, which opened up new avenues of investigation and greater recognition of the prevalence and various characteristics of these conditions. As more treatments with this and other mechanisms of action reach advanced stages of development and international markets, clinicians and patients alike are gaining confidence in the idea that sexual dysfunction can be successfully treated, and this, in turn inspires further research. While the efficacy of sildenafil has been striking, the drug is not effective and agreeable for all patients. Researchers have naturally sought to exploit this drug's mechanism of action in the hope that other agents can be found that are more selective, potent and tolerable. The etiology of sexual dysfunction is variable, as are its manifestations and the requirements patients have for therapy, and it is therefore likely that numerous treatments will be used to enhance sexual satisfaction in this population. Vardenafil, a new phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, is an agent which has shown promise at each stage of development. The drug is currently in the third phase of clinical testing for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Rationale for the combination of PGE(1) and S-nitroso-glutathione to induce relaxation of human penile smooth muscle

Many men with erectile dysfunction have been successfully treated with intracavernosal injection of prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) but this treatment is ineffective in 30 to 40% of patients. The goals of this study were to characterize PGE(1)-induced relaxation of isolated human penile smooth muscle (penile arteries and trabecular strips), correlating this in vitro response with the clinical response to this drug, and to evaluate the effects of the combination of PGE(1) with S-nitrosoglutathione (SNO-Glu) on relaxation of isolated human penile smooth muscle. Large variability in the EC(50) and maximal relaxation induced by PGE(1) was observed between tissues of different patients. Patients with poor clinical response to intracavernosal alprostadil (PGE(1)) had significantly larger EC(50) values and smaller maximal relaxation compared with patients with partial or complete clinical response to this drug. SNO-Glu consistently produced complete or near complete relaxation of human corpus cavernosum strips and penile arteries, even when the tissue responded poorly to PGE(1). In trabecular strips, the combination of PGE(1) and SNO-Glu in a 1:100 ratio demonstrated a synergistic relaxation effect. The combination of PGE(1) and SNO-Glu simultaneously increased the levels of both cAMP and cGMP in human corpus cavernosum tissue. Our results suggest that the clinical effectiveness of intracavernosal administration of PGE(1) is related to the variability of the relaxation responses of human trabecular tissue and penile arteries to this drug. The synergistic interaction of PGE(1) and SNO-Glu makes this combination an effective method to cause penile smooth muscle relaxation, a necessary step to initiate and maintain penile erection.