Impaired Elasticity of Aorta in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction

ObjectivesThe close relationship between the elasticity of the aorta and cardiovascular disease has aroused the interest of investigators in performing studies related to aortic stiffness parameters. We investigated the aortic stiffness parameters in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) without known cardiovascular disease and diabetes were investigated.MethodsThe study included 40 men with ED (aged 56 ± 8 years) according to the Doppler penile ultrasound findings and the five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function score (group 1) and 25 healthy men (aged 53 ± 5 years; group 2) underwent fasting serum glucose and lipid level determination. Echocardiography (using a 3.75-MHz transducer) and exercise treadmill test were performed. The diameter change, pulse pressure, aortic strain index, and distensibility index as aortic stiffness parameters were investigated in patients with ED and compared with those of healthy subjects.ResultsThe average International Index of Erectile Function-5 score of those with ED (group 1) and the control groups (group 2) was 11.2 and 23.2, respectively. Body mass index, age, fasting serum glucose, and lipid profile were not significantly different between the two groups. All patients had negative results on the exercise stress test; and the echocardiography parameters were similar. The percentage of aortic strain (group 1, 4.64 ± 2.43 versus group 2, 10.21 ± 5.13, P = 0.021) and the value of the distensibility index (group 1, 0.21 ± 0.15 versus group 2, 0.51 ± 0.20 cm 2/dyn/10−3, P <0.001 were significantly lower in the ED group than were those of the control group.ConclusionsThe results of our study have shown that the aortic strain index and distensibility index are impaired in patients with ED. This suggests that ED is a generalized vessel disease rather than a disorder peculiar to the penile arteries.