Intracavernosal injection of prostaglandin E1 as an alternative for papaverine in penile angiography.

Arteriography of the penile vasculature was performed after intracavernous injection of prostaglandin E1 in five patients. Penile tumescence was obtained in three patients with a dose of 10 micrograms and in the other two patients with a dose of 20 micrograms. Mean duration of penile tumescence was 1 h 36 min. Visualization of the penile vasculature was adequate in all patients. Local pain was a minor side effect in one patient. These preliminary results suggest that prostaglandin E1 might represent an alternative for papaverine in the angiographic study of male impotence.