[The pharmaco-erection test]

Intracavernous administration of vasoactive drugs induces an erection in absence of erotic stimuli; we can use this property in the study of impotent patients, inducing the appearance on an erection to examine it in all its phases (FIC Test). In case of the appearance of a good erection, the test should rule out the presence of a penile arterial disease or of a corpora-veno-occlusive deficiency. When the administration of the drug does not cause complete tumescence, it is very probable that the erectile dysfunction is caused by arterial vascular alterations or by organic disorders of veno-occlusion mechanism, but we cannot exclude for a certainty a psychogenic dysfunction. In fact an excessive noradrenergic autonomic control, as during stress condition, may limit FIC Test response. Therefore we hope that more efficacious molecules will be available in a near future. Nevertheless, we consider the opportunity of enclosing tests in the diagnostic algorithm of impotent patients to reveal an excessive adrenergic tone, such as, for example, psychological tests, study of cavernous potential, or intracavernous catecholamine dosage.