A prospective double-blind trial of intracorporeal papaverine versus prostaglandin E1 in the treatment of impotence

A randomized prospective, double-blind clinical trial was performed comparing intracorporeal injections of papaverine (30 mg. per ml.) with prostaglandin E1 (10 mcg. per ml.) as pharmacological treatment of impotence. A total of 15 men completed the study, receiving papaverine and prostaglandin E1 in a crossover design. Over-all, 9 of 15 evaluable patients had a full erection with either 1 or both drugs: 3 secondary to papaverine only, 2 to prostaglandin E1 only, and 4 to both drugs. No major complications were observed. We conclude that intracorporeal prostaglandin E1 may be used successfully to stimulate pharmacological erections and that it might be useful in patients not responding to intracorporeal papaverine.