Erectile dysfunction : current diagnosis and risk factors in upper Egypt

Abstract EN

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) has taken an increasing importance in andrology and vascular practice.

Recognizing the pathological pattern of ED assists in choosing the best method of treatment.

Normal erectile function needs good arterial inflow for adequate volume expansion of the cavernosal sinusoids, sufficient to cause restriction of venous outflow and retention of the penile blood flow.

Color flow Doppler analysis after intra-cavernous injection of vaso-active drugs has been reported to be a minimally invasive , accurate method, and considered to be the gold-standard technique for evaluating penile hemodynamics.

It becomes one of the useful diagnostic methods for evaluation of ED.

Aim of work: to diagnose types of erectile dysfunction and to evaluate the risk factors.

Patients and methods: From ranuary to August 2006, 280 married patients with ED referred from andrology and vascular surgery clinics to radiology department, of Assiut University Hospital to be included and diagnosed according to International Index of Erectile Function.

They aged from 21-63 years and age >40 was considered a risk factor.

Full history and clinical examination (including vascular examination of peripheral blood vessels and examination of the external genitalia) was done.

Pharmacodynamic color Doppler wav done to all patients using Acuson XP/10 machine, and 7 MHz frequencies transducer.

Gray scale & color Doppler imaging was performed to the penis to visualize the anatomic details of the corpora cavernosa, cavernosal arteries and surrounding structures.

Vaso-dilating agent 20pg prostaglandin El (PGE/J was injected directly into the corpus cavernosum.

Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) of the cavernosal artery were measured.

The resistivity index (Rl) was readily calculated by the machine & given .

Description of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) 50 mg orally for six coitus times in all patients was done and they were objectively reevaluated.

Patients with peripheral arterial diseases, Leriche .syndrome or ischemic heart disease were excluded from the study.

Results: Patients mean age was 37.68+ 10.85 years and was from 4 months to 15 years and the mean duration of impotence was 3.92± 4.06 years.

History of risk factors as smoking was present in 47%, age > 40 years in 35%, diabetes in 28%, and drugs induce impotence in 10%> of ED patients.

Normal Doppler findings were present in 67.8% of ED patients and were diagnosed non-vcisculogenic ED (psychogenic in 32.2 %, idiopathic in 2S.5% and neurogenic in 7.!% of ED patients).

Abnormal Doppler findings were present in 32.2% of ED patients and were diagnosed as vasculogenic ED (13.5% of total ED patients were venogenic, 10.5%> were arteriogenic and 8.2 % were combined ED).

Vasculogenic ED patients were venogenic in 41.1%, arteriogenic in 33.3% and combined in 25.6% of them.

Doppler study showed a significant decrease in cavernosal artery PSV and Rl and a significant increase in EDV values in vasculogenic group than those of total patients and non-vasculogenic group.

Arteriogenic group showed a significantly lower PSV values and venogenic group showed a significantly lower Rl and significantly higher EDV values than those of non-vasculogenic group.

No significant difference was present inbetween non-vasculogenic groups regarding their Doppler values.

Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) response was present in all patients and varies between grade II in 21.6% and grade III and IV in 78.4% of ED patients.

Vasculogenic and psychogenic ED got response in I00% of them.

Idiopathic and neurogenic ED response was in 70% and 40% of them respectively.

Conclusion: Erectile dysfunction could be vasculogenic or non-vasculogenic as psychogenic, idiopathic, or neurogenic.

Pharmacodynamic color Doppler using PGEl is diagnostic, safe and minimally invasive method to differentiate vasculogenic from non- vasculogenic types.

Risk factors concerned in ED are diabetes, smoking and some drugs.

Sildenafil citrate can give good result with vasculogenic and psycogenic and to less extent with idiopathic and neurogenic ED.