Do testosterone supplements enhance response to phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors in men with erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual dysfunction in male patients (1). ED involves many pathophysiological mechanisms, including vascular, neurological disorder and testosterone deficiency (2). Nowadays, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5-Is) is the first-line treatment for ED (3). However, approximately 30–35% of patients are ineffective while receiving PDE5-Is treatment. This is sometimes explained by associated testosterone deficiency (4).

Testosterone is considered as an important element to maintain an erection. Testosterone deficiency may affect the patient’s response to PDE5-Is. In several animal models, testosterone has been reported to regulate Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) and penile nitric oxide synthase, which could lead to erectile function (EF) (5-7). Weak response to PDE5-Is in patients with testosterone deficiency may be due to the relative deficiency of PDE5 (8). Late-onset hypogonadism (LOH) could be due to both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction (9), and ED is one of its main symptoms. ED in LOH is linked to increased oxidative stress, subclinical inflammation, and subsequent endothelial dysfunction (10). Therefore, ED and testosterone deficiency often coexist, which suggested that men with ED should routinely measure serum testosterone, and receive testosterone treatment if necessary (11-15). Meanwhile, the combination of TTh and PDE-Is has been gradually applied in men with ED and hypogonadism (16). However, effects of the combination therapy are still controversial. Spitzer et al. (17) have clearly demonstrated that in patients with ED and testosterone deficiency, combination therapy (TTh plus PDE5-Is) is not superior to PDE5-Is monotherapy group. Moreover, Buvat et al. (18) found that in patients with lower baseline of testosterone (T), effects of testosterone plus tadalafil are more significant than normal baseline of T. Therefore, the use of testosterone is still controversial in the treatment of men with ED and T-deficient. The objective of this meta-analysis was to assess whether TTh can enhance the response to PDE5-Is in men with ED and hypogonadism based on existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was performed to estimate required information size (RIS) to indicate firm evidence of clinical trial results and provide a termination criterion (19).

Methods

Research design kept to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) (20).

Data searches

We performed an extensive search, using PubMed (from1966–June 2019), Cochrane Library and Embase (from 1984–June 2019) using the following terms: “phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors” (MeSH terms) OR “phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors” (all fields) AND “testosterone” (MeSH terms) OR “testosterone” (all fields) AND “erectile dysfunction” (MeSH terms) OR “erectile” (all fields) AND “dysfunction” (all fields) OR “erectile dysfunction” (all fields).

Trial selection

We independently selected potential related studies and trials and then decided which RCTs to include after discussion.

Inclusion criteria used to select RCTs: (I) the subject of the study was PDE5-Is plus TTh versus PDE5-Is monotherapy for men with ED and hypogonadism or serum total testosterone <12.1 nmol/L (21); (II) using IIEF questionnaire as a tool to evaluate EF, including IIEF-15 or IIEF-5.

Exclusion criteria used to select RCTs: (I) studies not using IIEF as primary outcome were excluded from the analysis; (II) studies using androgens other than TTh as well as studies with simultaneous treatment with other hormones and drugs were also excluded.

Data extraction and bias assessment

We selected studies that evaluated the effect of PDE5-Is plus TTh on EF in men with hypogonadism by IIEF-5 or IIEF-EFD score, and we recorded T levels, the type of PDE5-Is, form of testosterone replacement, duration of treatment and side effects in all RCTs.

Revman software version 5.3 is applied to generate risk of bias (The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014) (22), and summarized in Figures 1,2. Two authors independently scored the items for each trial using this method.

Figure 1 Methodology quality graph: review author’s judgments about each methodology quality item presented as percentage across all studies.

Figure 2 Methodological quality summary: review authors’ judgements about each methodology quality item for each included study.

Statistical analysis

The comparative effects of pair-wised meta-analysis were analyzed using Stata version 12.0 (Stata Corp). Heterogeneity across studies was assessed using I² statistics. Fixed and random effect models were applied for the calculation depending on I² statistics. Summary effect was calculated as the standard mean difference (SMD) for IIEF-5 or IIEF-EFD score, together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Begg’s rank correlation test and sensitivity analysis were also conducted. TSA is used to estimate the sample size of systematic reviews or meta-analysis, reducing or excluding the risk of type-1 and type-2 errors. TSA forms a boundary value curve by correcting the random error: the TSA threshold, and the horizontal line of Z=1.96 is the traditional significant horizontal line (α=0.05). The statistical test of the meta-analysis is prompted only when the total sample size contained in the study reaches RIS, or if the Z-curve of the hypothesis test intersects with the trial sequential boundary or the ineffective line, and considered a statistically significant effect, the result tends to be stable. Trial Sequential Analysis software (version 0.9 Copenhagen Trial Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark) is applied to a TSA for the main result EF (23).

Results

Study characteristics

Using the database search strategy, we excluded 146 articles for different reasons of 154 retrieved articles. The research selection process is specifically shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 Methodological quality summary: review authors’ judgements about each methodology quality item for each included study.

There were 8 studies (17,18,24-29) encompassing 913 patients (with 797 patients completing the studies) with a mean follow-up of 10.8 wk (14–8 wk). Three studies using IIEF-15 and 5 studies using IIEF-5 as their sexual function tool. Considering the different trial follow-up, baseline serum total testosterone, baseline EF score and the type of PDE5-Is would affect the final effect. We divided the included studies into different subgroups based on the above characteristics. The characteristics of trials included are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1 Characteristics and outcomes of the studies included in the meta-analysis
Full table

Efficacy

Studies comparing the effect of TTh plus PDE5-Is group versus placebo plus PDE5-Is group included 913 patients. Heterogeneity was found among the trials, I² was 83 (P<0.0001). Thus, random-effect models were applied. No major publication bias was found by way of Begg’s test, based on EF component change (Kendall tau 0.73, P=0.49). As shown in Figure 4. We combined the results of those trials and concluded that the EF component change was much better in the combination therapy group than in the placebo plus PDE5-Is group. The pooled SMD for EF component change was 0.663 [(0.299 to 1.027); P<0.0001). Excluding each of included study for sensitivity analysis, and the change of pooled effect is not statistically significant. In addition, subgroup analysis was performed based on different baseline features, the following subgroups were defined: trial follow-up ≥12 wk, trial follow-up <12 wk. Baseline serum total testosterone >10 nmol/L, serum total testosterone ≤10 nmol/L. Baseline EF score ≥15, EF score <15. The type of PDE5-Is: sildenafil, tadalafil. The pooled SMD for trial follow-up ≥12 wk subgroup was 0.66 [(0.13 to 1.09); P<0.001], for trial follow-up <12 wk subgroup was 0.63 [(0.33 to 0.93); P<0.001], for baseline serum total testosterone >10 nmol/L subgroup was 0.42 [(−0.06 to 0.90); P=0.09], for baseline serum total testosterone ≤10 nmol/L subgroup was 0.97 [(0.39 to 1.55); P<0.001], for baseline EF score ≥15 subgroup was 0.80 [(0.36 to 1.23); P<0.001], for baseline EF score <15 subgroup was 0.60 [(0.11 to 1.08); P<0.001], for sildenafil subgroup was 0.38 [(0.02 to 0.75); P<0.001], for tadalafil subgroup was 0.77 [(0.27 to 1.28); P<0.001], shown in Figure 5A,B,C,D, which may partly explain the source of heterogeneity.

Figure 4 Forest plot for meta-analysis of the change of erectile function component for the studies on TTh plus PDE5-Is versus placebo plus PDE5-Is. PDE5-Is, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.

Figure 5 Forest plot for meta-analysis of the change of erectile function component at trial follow-up ≥12 wk (upper panel) and trial follow-up <12 wk (lower panel) (A), baseline serum total testosterone >10 nmol/L (upper panel) and serum total testosterone ≤10 nmol/L (lower panel) (B), baseline EF score ≥15 (upper panel) and trial EF score <15 (lower panel) (C), sildenafil (upper panel) and tadalafil (lower panel) (D).

Safety assessment

In the studies we included, Buvat et al. (18) reported no clinically significant differences were observed in mean PSA values between baseline (T group 0.94±0.7, Pl group 1.36±0.92 ng/mL) and end point (T group 1.06±0.85, Pl group 1.33±0.86 ng/mL). However, according to the age-specific normal ranges, two patients had high PSA values at end point in the test group (only one case reached 4 ng/mL). No clinically significant differences were observed in mean hematocrit values between baseline (T group 46±3.9, Pl group 45.1%±3.3%) and end point (T group 47.2±3.9, Pl group 45.4%±3.7%). No hematocrit increases above 52% was observed at endpoint. And Spitzer et al. (17) showed that hematocrit increased significantly more in the testosterone group than in the placebo group (P=0.011) but not greater than 0.54, and the frequency of adverse events and change in PSA levels did not differ between the two groups. None of the patients suffered from an increase in the PSA level above 4 ng/mL. Similar results were reported in the remaining included studies. All studies did not find serious adverse events, so that testosterone treatment didn’t need to be stopped, especially no prostate cancer. During the course of treatment, no significant hormonal changes were found except for the increase of androgen levels.

Trial sequential analyses

TSA was performed to estimate RIS to indicate firm evidence of clinical trial results, EF component change, which is shown in Figure 6; Although the RIS of 1,534 was not reached, Z-curve crossed two boundary, the expected conclusions are obtained in advance so that firm evidence was reached and that testosterone supplements can enhance the response to PDE5-Is in men with ED and hypogonadism.

Figure 6 Trial sequential analysis for the comparison of TTh plus PDE5-Is versus placebo plus PDE5-Is, included in the all‐studies meta‐analysis. PDE5-Is, phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors.

Discussion

This meta-analysis confirms that TTh increase PDE5-inhibitor responses in EF in man with ED and hypogonadism. After implement subgroup analysis, we conclude that baseline serum testosterone levels and baseline EF scores may affect the final outcome of IIEF. The effect of TTh plus PDE5-Is in man with ED is more significant in patients with lower baseline T levels. It is noteworthy that after summarizing the study of baseline T levels >10 nmol/L, also <12.1 nmol/L, we found that combination therapy was not superior to PDE5-Is plus placebo in improving EF component which confirm that combination therapy will show different results in different clinical situations. Spitzer et al. showed that after run-in period of sildenafil, serum testosterone increases 3.47 nmol/L. This approach has been supported by many other studies, men with ED can improve their testosterone levels after restoring sexual activity. Moreover, when PDE5-Is treatment has restored sexual function, there is no need to add testosterone treatment if it is for the treatment of other complications of hypogonadism (30-32), including in subclinical hypogonadism, which may be caused by lack of sexual activity (33). Therefore, PDE5-Is treatment can avoid unnecessary testosterone treatment in spite of the increased testosterone levels after PDE5-Is treatment are limited (17,30,32). Serum testosterone levels is difficult to achieve normal levels simply by increasing the sexual activity of a young man with extremely low testosterone levels. In addition, PDE5-Is alone may have a less effect on hypogonadism that have a clear cause. Among the studies we included (18,27,29), patients who were less effective during run-in period of PDE5-Is were selected, add testosterone therapy (TTh) achieved a significant result. Many young hypogonadal men suffering ED because of the lack of testosterone, and TTh alone is sufficient to improve EF (34-36). Besides, studies have shown that PDE5-Is is less effective in treating T-deficient people (6). Related studies have shown that man with ED and lower serum testosterone levels, who have failed treatment with PDE5-Is, TTh improves their clinical response to PDE5-Is (17,18,29).

In summary, the effect of combination therapy with T plus PDE5-Is for men with erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism probably depends on the specific diagnosis and patient response to PDE5-Is. For older men with ED, their T deficiency is often without clinical symptoms and may simply be due to a lack of sexual activity. Therefore, combination therapy (T plus PDE5-Is) should not be considered as a routine treatment (37). However, serum testosterone levels are difficult to achieve normal levels simply by increasing the sexual activity of a young man with extremely low testosterone levels, and PDE5-Is alone may have a less effect in men with subclinical hypogonadism which have a clear cause (38), who may benefit from combination therapy (T plus PDE5-Is).

We evaluated the safety of testosterone treatment in each study. All studies did not experience serious side effects, so that testosterone treatment needs to be stopped, especially no prostate cancer. During the course of treatment, no significant hormonal changes were found except for the increase of androgen levels.

No evidence exists that TTh increases prostate cancer risk in men with testosterone-deficiency (39). Many meta-analyses indicated that there was no significant increase in prostate cancer or development of PSA levels greater than 4.0 ng/mL in men treated with TTh versus placebo (40,41). In 2004, Kaufman and Graydon (42) reported no prostate cancer recurrences in 7 men with TTh after radical prostatectomy (RP). Median follow-up in the study was 2 years, with the longest follow-up of 12 years. Agarwal and Oefelein (43) reported no recurrences in 10 testosterone deficient men with history of RP who received TTh for up to 19 months, however, there are certain clinical scenarios in which several specialty society and expert group guideline statements indicate caution or contraindication to TTh (11,15,21). Presence of prostate cancer, particularly metastatic prostate cancer, 101 has historically been considered a contraindication to TTh. Several guideline statements still consider this to be a contraindication (15,21) including men at increased risk for developing prostate cancer-based upon the presence of a palpable nodule or elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) (44,45).

There are some limitations in this study: including low-evidence, heterogeneous studies. Different studies have different definitions of baseline testosterone levels, and studies have not performed run-in period, lead to greater heterogeneity. In addition, small sample size may lead to casual results. A larger sample size of prospective, well-designed trials is needed to better identify target populations that may benefit from the combination therapy.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the present results confirm that combination therapy is effective. For older men with ED, their T deficiency is often without clinical symptoms. Therefore, combination therapy should not be considered as a routine treatment. And young man with ED and subclinical hypogonadism with extremely low testosterone levels, may benefit from combination therapy. Besides, the effect of combination therapy in man with ED and lower baseline testosterone levels is more significant. Most patients have a stable overall safety of combination therapy.

Acknowledgments

Funding: Zhao Yi-Cheng Medical Science Foundation. ZYYFY2018031.

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tau.2020.01.13). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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