Are vascular disorders a common cause of erectile dysfunction in non hypogonadal, non neuropsychiatric patients?

Pharmacological Color Duplex Ultrasonography (PCDU) is a technique used as an advanced investigation of erectile dysfunction (ED) causes. Aim of the study was to determine, if frequency of vascular disorders in ED patients justifies routine use of PCDU.

Seventy six patients aged 25-69 years with moderate to severe ED, free neuropsychiatric history and normal hormones were included in the study. The investigation consisted of basic ED work up and penile PCDU. Erection vascular parameters were determined.

In the younger group (≤45 years), 12% of patients demonstrated mild arterial insufficiency and none venous leakage, with only two patients not achieving hard erection. In the older group, 19.6% of patients demonstrated mild to moderate arterial insufficiency and 5.9% severe. Venous leakage was detected in 7.84%. Most patients (74.6%) achieved normal erection and 66.7% had normal PCDU parameters.

Vascular disorders were not found the primary cause of ED, especially among younger patients. PCDU is an advanced ED investigation, which should be applied only in vascular high risk cases.