Journal List > Korean J Androl > v.29(2) > 1033101

Kim and Park: Role of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor on Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia/Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Abstract

There is strong evidence from multiple epidemiological studies that benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) induced lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are correlated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Although a direct causal relationship is not established yet, four pathophysiological mechanisms can explain the relationship. These include alteration in activity of nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic GMP signal pathway, autonomic hyperactivity, increased Rho kinase/Rho A pathway and pelvic atherosclerosis. Androgens have been suggested to have an important role in the maintenance of the functional and structural integrity of the urinary tract. Sexual function should be assessed and discussed with the patient when choosing the appropriate management strategy for LUTS, as well as when evaluating the patient's response to treatment. Multiple large clinical trials have shown an improvement in LUTS after phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5)-inhibitor treatment. Sildenafil is a pioneer of this clinical trial and appears to improve both erectile function and LUTS in subjects with ED. Basically PDE5 I with long half life is an appropriate candidate, therefore tadalafil and undenafil had been used to evaluate both diseases. Placebo-controlled trials of tadalafil showed improvement of LUTS secondary to BPH, but none of the studies showed a significant effect on urodynamic measures. PDE5 Is, such as sildenafil and tadalafil, increase the concentration of cGMP in plasma and smooth muscle, facilitating erection of the penis, relaxation of the bladder neck and prostate and subsequent bladder emptying. And theses PDE5 Is increase cAMP and cGMP levels and are more highly distributed in the prostate than plasma. These findings may help in the assessment of the feasibility of using PDE5 Is to concurrently treat both LUTS and ED.

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Fig. 1.
cAMP and cGMP levels in prostate tissue. (A) cAMP and (B) cGMP levels were significantly higher in prostate tissues of groups 2 (udenafil, 200 mg) and 3 (tadalafil, 20 mg) than group 1 (control). ∗p<0.05, ∗∗p<0.01.
kja-29-91f1.tif
Fig. 2.
cAMP and cGMP levels in plasma. (A) cAMP and (B) cGMP levels increased significantly 1 h after TURP in the plasma of groups 2 (udenafil, 200 mg) and 3 (tadalafil, 20 mg), but not group 1 (control). ∗p<0.01.
kja-29-91f2.tif
Fig. 3.
The prostate tissue-to-plasma (T/P) ratio of the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5 I) concentration. The ratio was significantly higher in group 2 (udenafil, 200 mg) than in group 3 (tadalafil, 20 mg).
kja-29-91f3.tif
Table 1.
Clinical evidence of sildenafil and lower urinary tract symptoms
Study Subjects and entry/ baseline data Study design Treatment Effects
Sairam et al46 112 men with ED
18% with LUTS
IPSS <7: 67%, 8∼9: 26%, 20∼35: 6%
Prospective open-label (evidence level 2b) On demand - Improved erections: 81%
- Changes in IPSS correlated with sexual function scores
- A lower IPSS at baseline predicted higher sexual function scores after treatment
Chang et al47 108 men with ED
IPSS and IIEF assessed at 3 mo
Retrospective (evidence level 2b) On demand - IPSS decreased from 15.8 to 13.3
- Significant inverse correlation between IIEF and IPSS
Mulhall et al48 48 men with IPSS >10 Open label (evidence level 2b) 100 mg - Mean improvement in ED: 7; IPSS: 4.6 points; quality of life: 1.4
- Improvement of IPSS in 60% of patients (35% >4
McVary et al49 189 sildenafil
180 placebo
IIEF ≤25, IPSS ≥12
12-wk, double-blind, placebo-controlled (evidence level 1a) 50 mg increased to 100 mg points); mild LUTS in 17%
- Sildenafil group: significantly greater improvements in IPSS and IPSS quality of life than placebo
- Greater improvements in patients with severe/moderate LUTS than in those treated with placebo
- Adverse events and study discontinuation due to adverse events greater in sildenafil group
McVary et al50 Equal previous study.
BMI: obese ≥30, overweight ≥25, normal <25 kg/m2
Ad hoc analysis previous study (evidence level 1a) 50 mg increased to 100 mg - Significantly greater improvements in IPSS and IIEF observed in sildenafil-treated patients versus placebo were independent of BMI

ED: erectile dysfunction, LUTS: lower urinary tract infection, IPSS: International Prostate Symptom Score, IIEF: International Index of Erectile Function, BMI: body mass index.

Table 2.
Clinical evidence of tadalafil and lower urinary tract symptoms derived from clinical trials
Study Subjects and entry/ baseline data Study design Treatment/duration Effects
McVary et al52 138 tadalafil
143 placebo Stratified by IPSS <20 or ≥20 and prior a-blocker therapy
Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (evidence level 1a) 5 mg increased to 20 mg after 6 wk; 12 wk - At 6 and 12 wk, IPSS improvements significantly higher in tadalafil than placebo groups
- Withdrawal due to adverse events: placebo 1.4%, tadalafil 3.6%; no changes in urodynamic parameters
Roehrborn et al53 1058 (approximately 200 per group): placebo, four tadalafil doses, stratified by IPSS <20 or ≥20 Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (evidence level 1a) 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg; 12 wk - Significant improvement in the 5-mg group
- IPSS increased from 4.9 to 1.8
- Higher doses associated with IPSS improvements but more adverse events
Dmochowski et al54 99 tadalafil
101 placebo IPSS 13
Prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled (evidence level Ia) - 20 mg; 12 wk - Significant improvement of IPSS (mean difference between treatments: 4.2).
- No change in urodynamic measures (detrusor pressure at maximal urinary low rate)

IPSS: International Prostate Symptom Score.

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