Because most men with erectile dysfunction have underlying vascular disease, it is important to update the cardiovascular safety profile of medications used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This retrospective analysis evaluated serious cardiovascular treatment-emergent adverse events (CVTEAEs) reported in 36 clinical trials of tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. A serious CVTEAE was defined as myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, or cerebrovascular death. In the 36 trials, 12,487 men (mean age 55 years) with erectile dysfunction received tadalafil, with 5,771 patient-years (PYs) of exposure, and 2,047 men (mean age 56 years) received placebo, with 460 PYs of exposure. Tadalafil 2 to 50 mg was taken as needed, 3 times/week, or once a day. Co-morbidities at baseline included hypertension (31%), diabetes (21%), hyperlipidemia (17%), and coronary artery disease (5%). Across all trials, the incidence rate of serious CVTEAEs was 0.40/100 PYs in tadalafil-treated patients and 0.43/100 PYs in placebo-treated patients. In patients taking tadalafil as needed, 3 times/week, or once a day, the incidence rates of serious CVTEAEs ranged from 0.17 to 0.54/100 PYs across placebo-controlled and open-label trials. In conclusion, the incidence rates of serious CVTEAEs were comparable among men with erectile dysfunction taking tadalafil as needed, 3 times/week, or once a day, and these rates were also comparable with those in placebo-treated patients. In this clinical trial population of men with erectile dysfunction, tadalafil was not associated with an increased risk for serious cardiovascular adverse events.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

The metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction: multiple vascular risk factors and hypogonadism.

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Comorbidity↗

PubMed2006

Counting the dead and what they died of.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cause of Death↗

PubMed2006

Prognostic significance of NOD2/CARD15 variants in HLA-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: effect on long-term outcome is confirmed in 2 independent cohorts and may be modulated by the type of gastrointestinal decontamination.

To assess the role of NOD2/CARD15 variants on the long-term outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in a genetically homogeneous group, we extended our previous study (cohort I, n = 78) and typed DNA for NOD2/CARD15 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from an additional 225 recipients and their HLA-identical sibling donors (cohort II) treated at four other European centers. Results of genotyping were compared with clinical outcome. The strong association of NOD2/CARD15 variants with transplantation-related mortality (TRM) was confirmed in univariate and multivariate analysis; TRM increased from 20% in cohort I/22% in cohort II in recipient/donor pairs without any NOD2/CARD15 variants to 47% in cohort I/32% in cohort II in the presence of one variant in either donor or recipient and further to 57% in cohort I/74% in cohort II in the presence of 2 or more variants (P < .002 in both cohorts). NOD2/CARD15 SNPs were not associated with relapse rate but had a strong impact on overall survival. In an analysis of center effects, the type of gastrointestinal decontamination was the only factor interfering with the prognostic significance of NOD2/CARD15 SNPs. Our data further support an interaction between gastrointestinal defense mechanisms, activation of the innate immune system, and specific transplant-related complications.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Erectile dysfunction and cardiac disease: recommendations of the Second Princeton Conference.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been linked increasingly to cardiovascular risk factors and comorbidities. Considering the potential risk associated with sexual activity, guidelines were developed (Princeton I) for assessment and management of patients with varying degrees of cardiac risk. These guidelines were recently updated (Princeton II) based on new data concerning the link between ED and cardiovascular disease and the availability of additional phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (vardenafil, tadalafil). Despite the need for careful risk assessment in all cases, sexual activity remains safe for the large majority of patients. However, all patients presenting with complaints of ED should be carefully assessed for the presence of cardiovascular risk factors (eg, obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia). Risk-factor modification, including lifestyle interventions (eg, exercise, weight loss) is strongly encouraged. Guidelines are presented for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients taking phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, including alternatives to the use of nitrates for these patients. Other drug interactions and the cardiovascular safety of testosterone replacement therapy are considered.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed2006

Cardiovascular risk factors determine erectile and arterial function response to sildenafil.

BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction is related to endothelial function. Cardiovascular risk factors determine endothelial function. Sildenafil is effective in treatment of erectile dysfunction but shows variable results. This study investigated the relationship of cardiovascular risk factors to acute and chronic responses to sildenafil. METHODS: Cardiovascular risk factors and acute and chronic pulse wave responses to a single 50-mg dose of sildenafil were assessed in 45 patients with erectile dysfunction confirmed by low international index of erectile function (IIEF) score before and after chronic therapy with sildenafil. RESULTS: On recruitment all patients showed evidence of erectile dysfunction with an IIEF score of 5 points (1 to 20 points). Chronic sildenafil therapy resulted in an increase of IIEF score of 13 points (range -1 to +24 points) and 24 patients (53%) achieved an IIEF score>or=21 points. Improvement in erectile function in response to sildenafil (rn=0.79; P<.001) was dependent on initial erectile function (P=.002) and baseline apolipoprotein B (P=.01). Vascular responses to acute treatment with sildenafil were assessed using pulse wave analysis. Acute changes in stiffness index induced by sildenafil (rn=0.65; P<.001) were related to apolipoprotein A-1 (P=.006), B (P=.02), and lipoprotein(a) (P=.008) concentrations, whereas reflection index (rn=0.69; P<.001) was related to pulse pressure (P<.001), albumin-to-creatinine ratio (P=.007), and lipoprotein(a) (P=.02). CONCLUSIONS: The extent of acute and chronic effects of sildenafil on erectile function and pulse wave profiles is determined by metabolic cardiovascular risk factors. Improved cardiovascular risk factor control is likely to increase the efficacy of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor therapy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Aged↗

PubMed2006

Skin explant model of human graft-versus-host disease: prediction of clinical outcome and correlation with biological risk factors.

A human skin explant model has been used to predict the clinical outcome and to study the immunopathology of human graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Whether the model gives the same predictive effect for GVHD in different hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) settings has not been assessed. It is also unknown whether the skin explant result reflects the known biological risk factors for clinical GVHD. In this study, the skin explant model was used to detect graft-versus-host reactions (GVHR) in vitro for 225 eligible patient/donor pairs. The predicted skin GVHR grade was correlated with the outcome of clinical GVHD, as well as HLA matching status, sex mismatches, and patient age. In sibling HSCT under either myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning, a significant correlation was observed between the predicted skin GVHR and clinical GVHD (P < .001 and P = .033, respectively). In HSCT using unrelated donors, the involvement of T-cell depletion led to a sharp increase in false-positive GVHR results, and no correlation was observed between the predicted skin GVHR and clinical GVHD. The skin GVHR grade correlated significantly with the HLA matching status (HLA-matched sibling pairs, HLA-matched unrelated pairs, and HLA-unmatched unrelated pairs). Furthermore, HLA-matched sibling pairs with a female-to-male sex mismatch had a significantly higher overall skin GVHR grade and a higher ratio of high- versus low-grade skin GVHR than the sibling pairs with all other sex combinations. Patient age was not reflected in the skin explant result. In conclusion, the predictive value of the skin explant model for aGVHD varies depending on the clinical transplant protocols, such as the type of GVHD prophylaxis used. Nevertheless, the skin explant model remains a unique in vitro system that provides an in situ histopathologic readout for studying alloreactivity and human GVHD. The model has also the potential to aid the development of novel prophylaxis and treatment for GVHD.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Cardiovascular safety of sildenafil citrate (Viagra): an updated perspective.

Sildenafil citrate (Viagra; Pfizer Inc, New York, NY) relaxes vascular smooth muscle, resulting in modest reductions in blood pressure that are insufficient to stimulate a reflex increase in heart rate. These blood pressure reductions are similar for healthy men and men with coronary artery disease (CAD) or who use antihypertensive drugs. Sildenafil does not affect the force of cardiac contraction, and cardiac performance is unaffected. Sildenafil is mildly vasodilating in the coronary circulation and does not increase the risk of ventricular arrhythmia. During exercise and recovery, sildenafil does not cause clinically significant alterations in hemodynamic parameters in men with CAD, and it has no negative effects on coronary oxygen consumption, ischemia, or exercise capacity. Clinical trial data from >13,000 patients, 7 years of international postmarketing data, and observational studies of >28,000 men in the United Kingdom and 3813 men in the European Union reveal that (1) there are no special cardiovascular concerns when sildenafil is used in accordance with product labeling and (2) the risk for serious events such as myocardial infarction or death is not increased. However, because safety has not been established in patients with recent serious cardiovascular events, hypotension or uncontrolled hypertension, or retinitis pigmentosa, physicians should consult their current local prescribing information before prescribing sildenafil for these patients. Among men with erectile dysfunction treated with sildenafil, the adverse event profile is similar overall to that in men with comorbid cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is similar between those with and without CAD, and it is similar between those who take and those who do not take antihypertensive drugs (regardless of the number or class). In a controlled interaction study of sildenafil and amlodipine, the mean additional reduction in supine blood pressure was 8 mm Hg systolic and 7 mm Hg diastolic. Sildenafil should be used with caution in patients who take alpha-blockers because coadministration may lead to symptomatic hypotension in some individuals. When sildenafil is coadministered with an alpha-blocker, patients should be stable on alpha-blocker therapy before initiating sildenafil treatment and sildenafil should be initiated at the lowest dose. Also, in the absence of information specific to mixed alpha/beta blockers, such as carvedilol and labetalol, similar care should be taken as for alpha-blockers. Sildenafil potentiates the hypotensive effects of nitrates, and its administration to patients who are using organic nitrates in any form, either regularly or intermittently, is contraindicated. Before prescribing sildenafil, physicians should carefully consider whether their patients with underlying CVD could be affected adversely by resuming sexual activity. Management recommendations based on cardiovascular risk, from the Second Princeton Consensus Conference, are presented.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗

PubMed2006