A simple noninvasive test to detect vascular disease in patients with erectile dysfunction: a novel method

The association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is becoming increasingly evident. Both conditions are thought to share a common denominator, which is endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, testing endothelial function in ED patients may serve to detect vascular disease in this cohort of patients.

To investigate whether measuring the reactive hyperemic response (RHR) of the forearm vessels through a simple noninvasive method could identify vascular disease in patients with ED.

Forty-eight male subjects were recruited into the study, 35 of whom presented to the sexual dysfunction clinic with a complaint of ED, and 13 healthy subjects served as a control group. The ED patients were subdivided into two groups, according to the presence or absence of CVD or its risk factors. The RHR of the forearm vessels was measured noninvasively in all subjects by using a handheld Doppler device.

Significant reduction in the peak systolic velocity ration was observed in ED patients with concomitant CVD or risk factors in comparison with the other ED patients with no CVD or risk factors and the control group. Results were highly significant on both occasions (P < 0.001). The 50% recovery time was not significantly different between any of the groups (P > 0.05).

Our results suggest that those patients with impaired RHR have an abnormality in their vascular system, which is likely to be the cause of their ED and CVD. Using this simple noninvasive method can help to identify vascular disease in ED patients. It can also be used to suggest vascular disease in any patient, where further tests might be indicated.