Summary
Since 1982, many substances have been used for intracavernous injection to produce erections. Because the first-generation drugs (phenoxybenzamine, papaverine) were associated with severe side effects, including priapism and fibrosis of the penis, it was important that a safe and effective substance for intracavernous injection be found. In our series of 550 men with erectile dysfunction who received a test dose of 20 μg prostaglandin E1, 385 (70%) developed an erection lasting more than 30 min. Side effects were minimal: only one patient required treatment for priapism, and no fibrosis was found. A total of 275 patients entered an autoinjection protocol. All of these men were capable of engaging in intercourse and experienced no major side effects. In conclusion, prostaglandin E1 is effective, safe and preferable to all other drugs currently used for intracavernous injection.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.
References
Aboseif SR, Breza J, Bosch RJLH, Benard F, Stief CG, Stackl W, Lue TF, Tanagho EA (1989) Local and systemic effects of chronic intracavernous injection of papaverine, prostaglandin E1 and saline in primates. J Urol 142:403–408
Battez G, Poulet L (1913) Action de l'extrait de prostate humaine sur la vessie et sur la pression artérielle. CR Soc Biol (Paris) 74:8–9
Bergström S, Sjövall J (1957) The isolation of prostaglandin. Acta Chem Scand 11:1086–1092
Bergström S, Ryhage R, Samuelsson B, Sjövall J (1962) The structure of prostaglandin E1, F1 and F2. Acta Chem Scand 16:501–515.
Coceani F, Olley PM, Lock JE (1980) Prostaglandins, ductus arteriosus, pulmonary circulation: current concepts and clinical potential. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 18:75–78
Euler US von (1935) Über die spezifische blutdrucksenkende Substanz des menschlichen Prostata- und Samenblasensekrets. Klin Wochenschr 14:1182–1183
Golub M, Zia P, Matsuno M, Horton R (1975) Metabolism of prostaglandins A1 and E1 in man. J Clin Invest 56:1404–1410
Hedlund H, Andersson KE (1985) Contraction and relaxation induced by some prostanoids in isolated human penile tissue and cavernous artery. J Urol 134:1245–1250
Hwang T, Yang C, Wang S, Chang CL, Tzai T, Chang CH, Wu H (1989) Impotence evaluated by the use of prostaglandin E1. J Urol 141:1357–1359
Jünemann KP, Alken P (1989) Pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction: a review. Int J Impotence Res 1:71–93
Kurzrock R, Lieb CC (1930) Biochemical studies of human semen: II. The action of semen on the human uterus. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 28:268–272
Lee LM, Stevenson RWD, Szasz G (1989) Prostaglandin E1 versus phentolamine/papaverine for the treatment of erectile impotence: a double-blind comparison. J Urol 141:549–550
Roy AC, Tan SM, Kottegoda SR, Ratnam SS (1984) Ability of human corpora cavernosa muscle to generate prostaglandins and thromboxanes in vitro. IRCS Med Sci 12:608–609
Seidmon EJ, Samaha AM (1989) The pH analysis of papaverine-phentolamine and prostaglandin E1 for pharmacological erection. J Urol 141:1458–1459
Stackl W, Hasun R, Marberger M (1988) Intracavernous injection of prostaglandin E1 in impotent men. J Urol 140:66–68
Stackl W, Loupal G, Holzmann A (1988) Intracavernous injection of vasoactive drugs in the rabbit. Urol Res 16:455–458
Stackl W, Stief CG, Benard F, Aboseif SR, Bosch RJLH, Loupal G, Lue TF, Tanagho EA (1989) Intracavernous injections of solutions with different osmolarity and pH in the rabbit. Int J Impotence Res 1:197–200
Svanborg K, Bygdeman M, Eneroth P, Bendvold E (1982) Quantification of prostaglandins in human seminal fluid. Prostaglandins 24:363–366
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stackl, W., Hasun, R. & Marberger, M. The use of prostaglandin E1 for diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. World J Urol 8, 84–86 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01576353
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01576353
Keywords
- Public Health
- Prostaglandin
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Papaverine
- Severe Side Effect