Pharmacologically induced erection in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Intracavernous injection of papaverine was tested in a group of 29 patients with multiple sclerosis and erectile dysfunction. Acceptable rigidity was obtained in 27 patients of whom 23 started to use self-injections as treatment. During an observation period of 5-12 months (mean 8.5 months) a total of 297 injections (3-35 per patient) were reported and 272 injections (92%) produced rigidity in 8-480 min. One case of priapism was seen. Minor haematomas or ecchymoses were reported in 16 cases. Two patients developed penile indurations after 6 and 19 injections respectively; one of these indurations resolved spontaneously. Self-injection with papaverine was found to be a safe and well-accepted treatment of erectile dysfunction in multiple sclerosis but long term side effects need further elucidation before the treatment is to be used as a routine procedure.