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Levitra Is Effective in Patients with ED after Prostatectomy

August 13, 2008

-European Urology Journal –

New study, conducted recently in many medical centers across Europe, Canada, North America and South Africa, confirmed the effectiveness of Levitra (vardenafil) taken on demand basis in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients after nerve-sparing prostatectomy.

This is the largest clinical study of its kind to date, which was initiated by Bayer Schering Pharma, the manufacturer of Levitra, with the aim to evaluate whether Levitra taken on demand is more effective in treating ED symptoms than the same medication taken once nightly as a prophylactic treatment. The study was conducted in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled manner in 87 centers around the globe.

Prostatectomy is a type of surgery, when the prostate gland should be removed because of cancer or for some other medical reasons. Usually, doctors remove the entire prostate through a patient’s abdomen. Nerve-sparing prostatectomy is a special technique of removing prostate gland without damaging nerves, coming to the male penis and participating in the process of penile erection. Though nerve-sparing prostatectomy is considered to be a safer surgery in terms of unwanted consequences, such as erectile dysfunction, there is still a risk for a man to develop some ED symptoms after surgery. That is why it is important for the doctors to define an effective and well-tolerated strategy of treating impotence caused by prostate removal.

During the first phase of the study, Levitra was given to male patients shortly after surgery (approximately in 14 days after surgery) and the treatment course lasted for 9 months. In general, the study showed excellent results of using Levitra as the treatment of ED symptoms related to prostatectomy. However, the best results were achieved by those patients, who took Levitra pills on demand – 36 % of such patients reported normal erectile function. For comparison, 20 % of patients, who took Levitra once nightly and 17% of patients on placebo also reported normal erectile function. Besides, the mean rates for successful intercourse were 46% for Levitra on demand, 34,5% - for Levitra nightly and 25% for placebo.

Summarizing the results of the study, doctors made a decision that optimal strategy of treating ED symptoms in patients after nerve-sparing prostatectomy is Levtira taken on demand basis, for example, when the sexual intercourse is expected or planned.

"The results show that Levitra taken on demand effectively treats erectile dysfunction immediately, and reliably after prostatectomy and helps restore the man," underlined one of the scientists, participated in the study, Professor Francesco Montorsi from the University Vita Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy. "For men with ED caused by radical prostatectomy, this study will finally shed light on the most efficient way to use PDE5 inhibitors after this type of surgery."

Nick

External resources
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/116222.php
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/622231/descripti...
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2874