[Vardenafil for refractory erectile dysfunction: the latest advances].

In recent years, more and more attention has been drawn to the role of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) in penile erection. The cyclic nucleotide (cGMP) signaling pathway mediates the smooth-muscle relaxing effect of nitric oxide necessary for normal erectile function. Down-regulation of this pathway is the pathological pivot of many forms of erectile dysfunction (ED) and leads to the development of some chronic diseases. Therapeutic outcomes have shown that vardenafil is effective and safe in the treatment of ED associated with dyslipidemia, hypertension, depression, diabetes, radical retropubic prostatectomy, spinal cord injury, sildenafil failure, renal transplantation, chronic prostatitis and that accompanied by premature ejaculation. Vardenafil provides a reasonable therapeutic alternative for these refractory ED patients. In addition, vardenafil can prolong erectile duration of ED patients.