Alprostadil is a medication used for two distinct purposes. First, it is employed in the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men for whom oral treatment is either contraindicated or ineffective. It can be administered either through an intracavernosal injection or an intraurethral suppository. Alprostadil, a synthetic form of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1), acts as a potent vasodilator, promoting smooth muscle relaxation within the corpus cavernosum of the penis. This relaxation allows for increased blood flow into the penis, resulting in penile swelling, elongation, and rigidity, thus facilitating erections. Second, alprostadil is used in neonatal patients with congenital heart defects that depend on a patent ductus arteriosus (DA) for survival until corrective or palliative surgery can be performed. In this context, alprostadil acts as a smooth muscle relaxant, preventing or reversing the functional closure of the DA that naturally occurs shortly after birth. By relaxing the DA smooth muscle, alprostadil ensures continued pulmonary or systemic blood flow in neonates with congenital heart defects. It's important to note that the use of alprostadil for these purposes should be under the supervision of healthcare professionals, as it involves specific dosages and administration methods tailored to the patient's condition.

Alprostadil Pathway References