Erythropoietin to Enhance Recovery of Erectile Function in Men Following Radical Prostatectomy
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-12-31
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This research study aims to explore the effectiveness of human erythropoietin versus placebo
in promoting the recovery of erectile function in patients undergoing bilateral nerve-sparing
radical retropubic prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate cancer.
Pre-clinical studies have shown erythropoietin potently promoted recovery of erectile
function in rats and humans have similar receptors on penile tissues and the periprostatic
neurovascular bundles. A clinical non-randomized study conducted in men undergoing radical
prostatectomy demonstrated a benefit to recovery of erectile function.
Therefore, the hypothesis is that erythropoietin offers nerve protection in men undergoing
nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy and results in a reduced degree of erectile dysfunction
and also an improved rate of erection recovery following surgery.