Managing Erectile Dysfunction in Heart Failure

Title:Managing Erectile Dysfunction in Heart Failure

Volume: 13 Issue: 1

Author(s): V. A. Giagulli, P. Moghetti, J. M. Kaufman, E. Guastamacchia, M. Iacoviello and V. Triggiani

Affiliation:

Keywords: Erectile dysfunction, Heart Failure, Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE 5) therapy.

Abstract: Nowadays, erectile dysfunction (ED) is considered an increasingly important clinical condition in men with heart failure (HF) which may influence the therapeutic approach to these patients. Since there is cogent evidence that ED is a “sentinel marker” of acute cardiovascular events especially in men younger than 65 years or in those affected by type 2 diabetes mellitus, it deserves an early diagnosis and an appropriate treatment.

In NYHA III-IV class HF patients, sexual activity could lead to acute cardiovascular events and this should be taken into account when approaching ED patients.

Moreover, it is well known that some classes of drugs, normally employed in the treatment of HF patients (e.g.thiazide diuretics, spironolactone and β-blockers), might worsen or even contribute to ED development. On the other hand, growing evidence suggests that PDE 5 inhibitors (vardenafil, tadalafil and sildenafil) seem to better satisfy the needs of NYHA HF I- II class men suffering from ED. In fact, they show few side effects, while improving both cardiopulmonary parameters and quality of life. Therefore, the aim of this review is to sum up the most recent evidence regarding the management of ED in men suffering from HF.

Cite this article as:

Giagulli A. V., Moghetti P., Kaufman M. J., Guastamacchia E., Iacoviello M. and Triggiani V., Managing Erectile Dysfunction in Heart Failure, Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets 2013; 13 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871530311313010015