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Pentoxifylline (Trental) is widely used to treat intermittent claudication because it alters the deformability of red blood cells, allowing them to travel more easily through partially obstructed blood vessels. This study assessed whether this action of pentoxifylline would benefit patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
Researchers randomized 24 men to receive pentoxifylline (400 mg three times daily) or placebo for 12 weeks; those given placebo subsequently received pentoxifylline. The men (mean age, 63) had not had successful coitus for an average of 6 years.
Five men were excluded because of noncompliance and one dropped out of the study. Of the 18 remaining men, 9 regained erectile function during intercourse and 3 had no improv…