Transcutaneous nitroglycerin in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in spinal cord injured.

We have tested the erectile effect of penile applicated nitroglycerin plasters (Transiderm-Nitro 10 mg/24 hours) in 17 spinal cord injured men, who had responded to intracavernous papaverine injections with erections sufficient for vaginal penetration. The nitroglycerin plasters were applied on the skin of the penile shaft and a positive response was obtained in 12 men. A total of 5 men reported an erectile response sufficient for vaginal penetration after using nitroglycerin plasters at home. All 5 preferred to continue with this noninvasive treatment compared to papaverine injections. Our results indicate that men with spinal cord injury who need doses larger than 15 mg papaverine to obtain erection sufficient for vaginal penetration will not achieve this with nitroglycerin plasters. We suggest that this noninvasive treatment should be tested on spinal cord injured men before injection therapy is initiated.