Sildenafil assumption and acute effects on the uroflowmetric parameters

AIM: In the recent literature, great attention has been given to the evaluation of the real effectiveness of the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE-5i), usually prescribed for the erectile dysfunction (ED), in the treatment of the lower urinary tracts symptoms (LUTS). The aim of this study was the evaluation of the acute effects of sildenafil on the uroflowmetric parameters. METHODS: Within September 2011 and February 2012, twenty-seven patients, affected by ED with a IIEF-5 score ≤21 and a contextual IPSS within 8 e 19, have been selected and enrolled in this study. Two uroflowmetric measurements with suprapubic ultrasound valuation of the post voiding residual (PVR) were performed on each patient, 2 hours before and after the administration of sildenafil (50 mg). RESULTS: The average age of the patients came out within di 47.3±9.4 years. On the baseline, the average of the Qmax registered has been 15.6±3.3 mL/s, the average Qave has been 8.2±3.2 mL/s and the average resulted 32.5±11.4 mL. After the mono-administration of sildenafil 50 mg, the average Qmax value, the Qave one and the RPM one turned out into 17.7±5.1 mL/s, 10.1±3.5 mL/s and 22.6±9.6 mL. The differences within the standard values, were considered statistically relevant (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Actually, the study shows that, in the acute phase, the administration of sildenafil 50 mg leads to effects on the uroflowmetric standards on men affected by LUTS and DE.