Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness in treating impotence to topically applied cream containing three vasodilators--aminophylline, isosorbide dinitrate, and co-dergocrine mesylate--which act by different mechanisms. DESIGN: Randomised double blinded placebo controlled crossover trial over two weeks. SUBJECTS: 36 men with erectile dysfunction randomly allocated to two equal groups. INTERVENTIONS: Active cream containing aminophylline 3%, isosorbide dinitrate 0.25%, and co-dergocrine mesylate 0.05% for one week and placebo for another. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients' reported experience of penile responses and side effects of treatment in questionnaires. Penile tumescence and arterial flow in the laboratory. RESULTS: 21 patients reported full erection and satisfactory intercourse with the active cream. Three men reported full erection and satisfactory intercourse with either cream. The active cream was more effective in psychogenic than organic impotence (eight out of nine men with psychogenic impotence achieved a full erection upsilon four out of eight with neurogenic impotence and two out of seven with arterial insufficiency). No major side effects were reported. In the laboratory the active cream increased penile arterial flow (0.19 (SD 0.08) m/s upsilon 0.02 (0.15) m/s with placebo) and induced tumescence in 24 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Topical treatment with a cream containing three different vasodilators might be considered before intracavernous injection of vasoactive agents, particularly in psychogenic impotence.