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Previous studies have suggested that risk for malignant melanoma is elevated in users of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors (sildenafil, vardenafil, tadalafil) for erectile dysfunction. A theoretical biologic mechanism exists: Downregulation of PDE5 is thought to increase invasiveness of melanoma. Researchers identified 4065 Swedish men with incident malignant melanoma and 20,325 age-matched controls without melanoma; 435 and 1713 of these men, respectively, had filled prescriptions for PDE5 inhibitors. PDE5-inhibitor users were younger, healthier, more likely to be married, and more likely to have higher incomes and educational levels than nonusers.
In adjusted analyses, PDE5-inhibitor users were significantly more likely than nonus…