Use of Sildenafil for Treatment of Urinary Incontinence

The University of Texas System (UT)

Status and phase: Active, not recruiting; Phase 1

Conditions: Urinary Incontinence

Treatments: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Sildenafil

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02983461

15-0121

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators goal is to develop medical treatments for stress/mixed urinary incontinence. Sildenafil has been shown to improve blood flow as well as muscle mass and strength and to decrease muscle fatigue. The investigators believe that it will improve muscular atrophy in the pelvic floor, thus improving symptoms of urinary incontinence related to pelvic floor dysfunction.

Full description

Aim: To determine the effect of sildenafil on urinary incontinence.

1. Episodes of urinary incontinence will be recorded using a 3 day bladder diary.
2. Quantitative assessment of urinary incontinence will be performed at baseline and after treatment using a Pad Test.
3. Muscle strength will be assessed through use of a perineometer.
4. To evaluate macrocirculatory blood flow in pelvic organs, women will be assessed with noninvasive imaging before and after randomization to sildenafil.
5. Secondary outcomes will include evaluation of muscle and vaginal mucosal thickness.

Enrollment: 24 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 50 to 80 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Postmenopausal females, 50-80 years of age, at the time of consent
• Have stress or mixed urinary incontinence, with at least 3 episodes/week
• Willing and able to comply with study procedures
• Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Significant heart, liver, kidney, pulmonary, blood, autoimmune or peripheral vascular disease (history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis is not exclusionary if stable and thyroid replacement is being administered. Thyroid testing will be performed at screening and as needed during study visits. )
• Systolic blood pressure <100 or >150, diastolic blood pressure <60 or >90 after repeated evaluation with proper cuff. This range is smaller than the acceptable range stated in the prescribing information for sildenafil (>90/50 and <170/110)
• Diabetes mellitus or other untreated endocrine disease
• Active cancer
• Currently using and planning to continue use of urinary incontinence medications during study period
• BMI > 40
• HIV, Hepatitis B, or Hepatitis C
• Use of systemic nitrates, anabolic steroids or corticosteroids in the past 6 months
• Use of alpha blockers
• Any medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the subject at increased risk for participation.
• Known allergic reaction to any agent under investigation or required by the protocol.
• History of prior non-compliance or the presence or history of psychiatric condition (including drug or alcohol addiction) that would, in the opinion of the investigator, make it difficult for the subject to comply with the study procedures or follow the investigators instructions.
• Females who are pregnant or lactating.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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24 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Double Blind Placebo 3 times a day for 10 weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: Placebo

Sildenafil

Active Comparator group

Description:

Double Blind Sildenafil, 20mg x 3 times a day, 10 weeks.

Treatment:

Drug: Sildenafil