Whole rehabilitation: a new goal of erectile dysfunction therapy

Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors effectively enhance the erectile function of the patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). The use of sildenafil citrate is expanding to a broader extent. Pulmonary artery hypertension has become a new indication of sildenafil. Sildenafil could improve the epithelial function in several vascular conditions in clinical trials. This article reviews the recent advances on basic and clinical studies of ED and sildenafil. On animal models, sildenafil could resume the cavernous epithelial function, up-regulate the protein expression of phosphorylated endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), reverse the decreased intracavernosal pressure (ICP) induced by pudendal artery blood flow restriction or hypoxia. In clinical studies, over 50% of ED patients receiving sildenafil got a fully rigid erection (grade 4 erection). And the same percentage of post-nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy patients receiving sildenafil obtained penile rehabilitation and spontaneously resumed erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. Sildenafil treatment has contributed to the normalization of self-esteem, confidence and sexual harmony in men with ED. All this suggests that a whole rehabilitation from erectile to psychosocial function may become a new goal of ED therapy.