Effect of Vardenafil on Erectile Dysfunction and Portal Hemodynamics in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

Inclusion Criteria: * Male patients aged older than 18 years with mild to moderate (Child´s Grade A or B) cirrhosis scheduled for hepatic hemodynamic investigation. * Erectile dysfunction in medical history * Following beta-blocker therapy will be allowed: carvedilol (up to the max. dose of 25 mg) and propranolol (up to the max. dose of 160 mg) * Patient living in a stable relationship * HVPG (Hepatic Venous Pressure Measurement)\>= 10 mmHg Exclusion Criteria: * HVPG \<10 * HVPG \> 20 mmHg and varices, unless ligated and treated in an eradication program within 6 months * history of variceal bleeding without secondary prophylaxis with beta blocker or endoscopic band ligation * History of endoscopically diagnosed large varices with red spots without previous bleeding and without prophylactic beta blocker or endoscopic band ligation * History of hypersensitivity to the trial drugs and contrast agent or to drugs with a similar chemical structure * Treatment with vasoactive or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or systemic antibiotics one week before the study * Exclusion criteras for hepatic hemodynamic investigation * Cardiac, renal or respiratory failure * previous surgical or transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt * insulin-dependent diabetes * Child´s Grade C cirrhosis