[The intracavernous injection of Edex (prostaglandin E1) in the treatment of erectile impotence in persons in older age groups].

Erectile impotence may be of neuropathic, vascular, psychogenic and hormonal origin or may be caused by their combination. This impotence occurs in up to 10% of sexually active men. The injection of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) into the penile cavernous bodies results in venous occlusion warranting maximal erection. Edex (PGE1) was given to 23 patients aged 43-68 years (mean age 58.9 years) suffering from impotence as a result of prostatic cancer (5 cases), postprostatic adenomectomy condition (8 cases), chronic prostatitis (4 cases), diabetes mellitus (4 cases), chronic alcoholism (1 case), spinal trauma (1 patient). The dose (from 5 to 20 micrograms) was adjusted individually. Good, satisfactory and poor effects were achieved in 86.2, 13.0 and 4.3% of the patients, respectively. In prostatic cancer males on hormone therapy and after adenomectomy the effect was obtained in 76.9% (in 10 of 13 males). An old age is not a contraindication for intracavernous injections of Edex.