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Efficacy of PDE-5-inhibitors for erectile dysfunction. A comparative meta-analysis of fixed-dose regimen randomized controlled trials administering the International Index of Erectile Function in broad-spectrum populations

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 18, pages 570–571 (2006)Cite this article

We read with interest the meta-analysis of fixed-dose studies on the efficacy of PDE5 inhibitors by Berner and colleagues (Int J Impot Res 2006; 18: 229–235). The authors suggested superiority of sildenafil compared to vardenafil based on relative improvements in IIEF-EF domain scores.1 However, their analysis fails to consider the following issues.

The studies had different durations of treatment. Although the modal duration was 12 weeks, three of the studies were for 3, 4 and 8 weeks and one at 26 weeks. These differences in study duration could have influenced outcomes in several ways, including increased discontinuation rates or disease progression in the longer duration studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA

    R C Rosen

  2. Department of Neurology, Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    J W Shaw

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  1. R C Rosen
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  2. J W Shaw
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Correspondence to R C Rosen.

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Rosen, R., Shaw, J. Efficacy of PDE-5-inhibitors for erectile dysfunction. A comparative meta-analysis of fixed-dose regimen randomized controlled trials administering the International Index of Erectile Function in broad-spectrum populations. Int J Impot Res 18, 570–571 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901488

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