Effect of different beta blockers on penile vascular velocities in hypertensive males

BackgroundBeta blockers are very commonly used as antihypertensive medications in young active individuals. This class has been accused of erectile dysfunction in patients taking them. Problems with erectile function can raise a concern in the treatment of hypertension and may influence the choice of treatment regimens and decisions to discontinue drugs.AimThe aim was to assess the effect of different beta blockers: nebivolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, and carvedilol on the penile arterial duplex velocities in hypertensive males.Methods and results108 non-smoking, non-diabetic, recently diagnosed hypertensive men, otherwise healthy, participated in the study. The patients were divided into four groups: Group 1 (24 patients) who were taking 5 mg of nebivolol, Group 2 (28 patients) who took 100 mg of atenolol, Group 3 (29 patients) who were taking 10 mg of bisoprolol, and Group 4 (27 patients) who were on 25 mg of carvedilol. The penile vascular velocities were measured before treatment and after a treatment phase of eight to twelve weeks of beta blocker antihypertensive treatment. We obtained a statistically significant diminish of the stimulated PSV with atenolol (P = 0.03), bisoprolol (P = 0.05), and carvedilol (P = 0.02), while, with nebivolol the PSV did not show a significant change (P = 0.7). There was also a significant decrease of the stimulated EDV with nebivolol (0.04) with no change with the other beta blockers.ConclusionNebivolol is a unique member of the beta blocker family showing neutral effects on the penile vascular velocities as compared to other beta blockers in hypertensive males.