Six months of daily treatment with Vardenafil improves parameters of endothelial inflammation and of hypogonadism in male patients with type 2 diabetes and erectile dysfunction: a randomized, double-blind, prospective trial.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with endothelial dysfunction, characterized by a reduction of nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxation. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) improve NO levels. The aim of the study is to investigate whether long-term, chronic treatment with the PDE5i Vardenafil improves systemic endothelial function in diabetic men. DESIGN: Prospective, investigator-initiated, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical-trial. METHODS: 54 male patients affected by T2DM, diagnosed within the last 5 years, and erectile dysfunction were enrolled, regardless of testosterone (T) levels. 26 and 28 patients were assigned to verum and placebo-group, respectively. The study consisted of an enrolment phase, a treatment phase (24weeks) (Vardenafil/placebo 10mg twice-daily), and a follow-up phase (24weeks). Parameters evaluated: International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15, flow mediated dilation (FMD), serum interleukin (IL)-6, endothelin (ET)-1, gonadotropins and T (measured by liquid-chromatography/tandem mass-spectrometry). RESULTS: IIEF-15 erectile function improved during treatment (p<0.001). At the end of the treatment both FMD (p=0.040) and IL-6 (p=0.019) significantly improved. FMD correlated with serum T levels (R2=0.299, p<0.001). T increased significantly under Vardenafil treatment and returned in the eugonadal range only in hypogonadal men (n=13), without changes in gonadotropins. Chronic Vardenafil treatment did not result in relevant side effects. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical-trial designed to evaluate the effects of chronic treatment of Vardenafil on endothelial health-related parameters and sexual hormones in patients affected by a chronic disease. Chronically administered Vardenafil is effective and improves endothelial parameters in T2DM patient. Moreover, chronic Vardenafil therapy improves hypogonadism in diabetic, hypogonadal men.