Efficacy and safety of sildenafil for erectile dysfunction after kidney transplantation

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sildenafil in these patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) as well as its effects on cylosporine/tacrolimus concentrations and graft function.Method One hundred and ninety-two married males,who had received kidney transplantations at least half a year before and with stable kidney function,were selected randomly in the study.ED was assessed and diagnosed using the self-administered International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF),and those with ED undergoing unsuccessful psychotherapy were treated with sildenafil for 4 weeks.The efficacy of sildenafil was assessed by readministering the IIEF questionnaire after 4 weeks of therapy.Blood pressure,serum creatinine levels,and cyclosporine/tacrolimus trough concentrations were measured before and after sildenafil therapy.Results Eighty-five recipients with ED received sildenafil for 4 weeks.The IIEF scores of each question were increased significantly and sildenafil treatment was effective in 71 patients (83.5％).Blood pressure,serum creatinine levels,and cyclosporine/tacrolimus trough concentrations had no significant change before and after sildenafil treatment.The dosage of sildenafil in recipients with cyclosporine was higher than that of recipients with tacrolimus (72.4 ± 27.7 mg vs.43.7 ± 21.9 mg,P＜0.05).Side effects were slight.Conclusion This study demonstrated that sildenafil treatment for kidney-transplant patients with ED was effective and safe.It is necessary to further study metabolic effects of sildenafil therapy on cyclosporine/tacrolimus. Key words: Kidney transplantation;  Erectile dysfunction;  Sildenafil