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Updated: Jul 2, 2026

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
09:33

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology

Published on: February 7, 2015

Arterial function and intima-media thickness in hypertensive patients with erectile dysfunction

Charalambos Vlachopoulos1, Konstantinos Aznaouridis, Nikolaos Ioakeimidis

  • 1Cardiovascular Diseases and Sexual Health Unit and Hypertension Unit, 1st Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical School, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece. cvlachop@otenet.gr

Journal of Hypertension
|August 14, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Erectile dysfunction in hypertensive men is linked to arterial issues and inflammation, indicating subclinical atherosclerosis. The severity of erectile dysfunction did not correlate with these arterial markers.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Urology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a significant predictor of cardiovascular risk, particularly prevalent in hypertensive individuals.
  • Hypertension is a major risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between erectile dysfunction and arterial structure/function in hypertensive patients.
  • To assess arterial characteristics and systemic inflammatory markers in hypertensive men with and without ED.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study comparing 52 hypertensive men with vasculogenic ED to 34 hypertensive men with normal erectile function.
  • Evaluation of arterial structure (common carotid intima-media thickness) and function (carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity, flow-mediated dilation).
  • Measurement of systemic markers of endothelial dysfunction (asymmetric dimethylarginine) and inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6).

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive men with ED exhibited increased common carotid intima-media thickness and carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity.
  • Lower flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery and elevated levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 were observed in the ED group.
  • Multivariable analysis confirmed independent associations between ED and impaired arterial structure and function, independent of other risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • The presence of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction in hypertensive men is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis.
  • Impaired arterial function, endothelial dysfunction, and systemic inflammatory activation are linked to erectile dysfunction in this population.
  • The severity of erectile dysfunction did not correlate with the measured arterial indices or inflammatory markers.
Abstract

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