The phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitors sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil are widely used first-line therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED). Since the advent of sildenafil in 1998, more than 40 million men worldwide have been successfully treated with these compounds. The safety and high tolerability of PDE5 inhibitors make them an attractive tool to investigate further physiological functions of PDE5, for example the modulation of intracellular cyclic GMP (cGMP) pools. As cGMP is a key component of intracellular signaling this may provide novel therapeutic opportunities beyond ED even for indications in which chronic administration is necessary. The approval of sildenafil for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension in 2005 was a notable success in this area of research. A number of other potential new indications are currently in various phases of preclinical research and development. In recent years, extensive but very heterogeneous information has been published in this field. The aim of this review is to summarize existing preclinical and clinical knowledge and critically discuss the evidence to support potential future indications for PDE5 inhibitors.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901577 | DOI Listing |
BMJ Case Rep
January 2025
Department of Allergy, Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
We describe a woman in her late 20s with newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), who presented with fulminant pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) requiring inotropic and extracorporeal support. She was established on triple pulmonary vasodilator therapy with concurrent aggressive immunosuppression; however, treatment was complicated by infection and diffuse alveolar haemorrhage, necessitating delays in immunosuppression and withdrawal of epoprostenol. Despite this, with ongoing suppression of her SLE, her pulmonary haemodynamics improved, with normal pressures on right heart catheterisation several months later allowing stepdown to sildenafil monotherapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Urol
January 2025
Urology and Nephrology Research Center (UNRC), Research Institute for Urology and Nephrology, Center of Excellence in Urology, Shahid Labbafinejad Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran.
Background: Medical Expulsive Therapy (MET) has been recommended as an established modality for the treatment of distal ureteral stones due to its clearance rate, pain control, and patient satisfaction while having minimal morbidity in comparison to other urologic interventions. In some studies, a combination of medications has been used, which we assessed in this network meta-analysis (NMA).
Methods: We conducted systematic searches in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify relevant trials published between 2001 and 2024.
Basic Clin Androl
January 2025
Chair of Endocrinology and Medical Sexology (ENDOSEX), Dept. of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via Montpellier 1, Rome, 00133, Italy.
The serendipitous discovery that inhibiting type 5 phosphodiesterase (PDE5) using sildenafil, a potent PDE5 inhibitor (PDE5i) initially developed for cardioprotection, introduced the possibility of orally managing erectile dysfunction (ED) led to an increase in research data, which are currently considered groundbreaking for the new discipline of sexual medicine. Findings from a number of laboratories and clinics around the world unanimously demonstrated the following: (i) the major cause of ED is directly or indirectly related to cardiovascular disease (CVD); (ii) ED and CVDs share the same risk factors, which are related mainly to lifestyle choices; (iii) the first therapeutic approach to both ED and CVDs is to transform harmful lifestyles into virtuous lifestyles; and (iv) PDE5is in general, particularly sildenafil, are very safe, if not protective, for use in CVD patients. However, the use of PDE5is has faced several challenges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
January 2025
Third Department of Urology, Attikon University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece.
Phosphodiesterases, particularly the type 5 isoform (PDE5), have gained recognition as pivotal regulators of male reproductive physiology, exerting significant influence on testicular function, sperm maturation, and overall fertility potential. Over the past several decades, investigations have expanded beyond the original therapeutic intent of PDE5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction, exploring their broader reproductive implications. This narrative review integrates current evidence from in vitro studies, animal models, and clinical research to clarify the roles of PDEs in effecting the male reproductive tract, with an emphasis on the mechanistic pathways underlying cyclic nucleotide signaling, the cellular specificity of PDE isoform expression, and the effects of PDE5 inhibitors on Leydig and Sertoli cell functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCells
January 2025
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea.
Phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes regulate intracellular signaling pathways crucial for brain development and the pathophysiology of neurological disorders. Among the 11 PDE subtypes, PDE4 and PDE5 are particularly significant due to their regulation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) signaling, respectively, which are vital for learning, memory, and neuroprotection. This review synthesizes current evidence on the roles of PDE4 and PDE5 in neurological health and disease, focusing on their regulation of second messenger pathways and their implications for brain function.
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