PubMed2001
OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to analyze the cavernosal tissue metabolic status of patients with vascular and psychogenic impotence and attempt to establish metabolic differences between these types of erectile dysfunction. METHODS: 103 patients were classified according to the type of erectile dysfunction into group A (vascular) and group B (psychogenic). Diagnosis was based on clinical history, physical examination, intracavernosal injection test, penile echo-doppler assessment, cavernosography-cavernosometry and nocturnal penile test. Cavernosal and peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from each patient and the lipoperoxide (LPO) levels and total antioxidant status (TAS) were determined. SPSS V9.0 was used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 62 years (range 32-73). Cavernosal blood lipoperoxide levels were statistically higher (p < 0.05) in patients with vascular impotence (2.45 mumol/L) than in those with psychogenic impotence (1.47 mumol/L). Cavernosal blood total antioxidant status was statistically higher (p < 0.05) in patients with psychogenic (1.40 mmol/L) than those with vascular impotence (1.10 mmol/L). The lipoperoxide levels and total antioxidant status for peripheral blood were 1.68 mumol/L vs 1.60 mumol/L and 1.29 mmol/L vs 1.35 mmol/L, respectively, with no statistically significant differences between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cavernosal blood lipoperoxide levels and total antioxidant status can be an indicator of cavernosal tissue metabolic status and function.