alprostadil
Meaning of alprostadil: Alprostadil, also known as prostaglandin E1, is used to treat erectile dysfunction and to keep a critical fetal blood vessel open in newborns.
Definition of alprostadil
Alprostadil is a synthetic form of prostaglandin E1, a naturally occurring compound that relaxes smooth muscle and widens blood vessels. It has two well established but very different clinical uses depending on how it is given.
Given by injection into the penis or as a urethral suppository, alprostadil is used to treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow into erectile tissue. Given instead as a continuous intravenous infusion in newborns, alprostadil keeps the ductus arteriosus, a fetal blood vessel connecting two major arteries, from closing after birth in infants whose congenital heart defects depend on that vessel staying open until surgery can be performed.
Because these two uses involve different routes of administration and entirely different patient populations, alprostadil's identity as prostaglandin E1 links them, even though the clinical contexts have little else in common.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Alprostadil was given by continuous infusion to keep the ductus arteriosus open before planned surgical repair.
Good to know
Alprostadil's use in erectile dysfunction and its use to maintain ductal patency in newborns with certain congenital heart defects are unrelated in clinical context despite sharing the same underlying drug.