Effect of Oral Administration of Beraprost Sodium on Erectile Dysfunction / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Beraprost Sodium (BPS) is an orally stable prostacyclin (PGI2) analogue and exerts an inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation as well as a potent vasodilatory effect. We investigated the efficacy and safety of BPS in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 74, consecutive patients subjected to have impotence work-ups including history taking, penile duplex ultrasonography, pharmacological erection test, and cavernous nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphatase (NADPH) diaphorase staining. Sixty-six patients continuously received BPS for more than 4weeks (range 4-32 weeks, average 8.4+/-5.8 weeks), bid or tid (a total 80-120microgram/day) for long-term control of ED. Remaining 8 patients intermittently received 40-60microgram of BPS an hour prior to intercourse to obtain immediate erection for on-demand treatment. Sexual function was compared by analysis of an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and general efficacy based on patient's subjective evaluation after treatment. RESULTS: IIEFs of all patients were significantly improved after BPS treatment for ED. Erectile function with IIEF question No. 3 and 4 were improved by 1.7+/-1.3 to 3.2+/-1.8 and 1.4+/-0.9 to 2.7+/-1.6, respectively (p<0.05). General efficacy of BPS was shown as full effect in 23%, moderate effect in 31%, mild effect in 26%, and no effect in 20% of the patients. Better sexual function including IIEF and general efficacy were observed in continuous treatment group than on-demand treatment group. Better result was also found in diabetics than non-diabetics (p<0.05) while no difference was observed among psychogenic, vasculogenic, and neurogenic group. The side effect of BPS was minimal; flushing in 8%, headache in 5%, indigestion in 4%, and insomnia in 1% of total patients. CONCLUSIONS: Oral BPS is a safe and effective agent to treat ED. It remains to be investigative, to determine desirable treatment method and to elucidate long term control of ED in association with oral BPS.