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Ultrasound Assessment of Endothelial-Dependent Flow-Mediated Vasodilation of the Brachial Artery in Clinical Research
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Serum folic acid: an effective indicator for arteriogenic erectile dysfunction
Xingliang Feng1,2, Yangyang Mei1, Pinpeng Xie3,4
1Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Frontiers in Endocrinology
|August 9, 2023
Summary
Lower serum folic acid (FA) levels correlate with reduced penile arterial blood flow in men with erectile dysfunction (ED). FA deficiency is an independent risk factor for arteriogenic ED, impacting penile endothelial function.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Andrology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition affecting many men.
- Penile arterial peak systolic velocity (PSV) measured by penile Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) is a key indicator of penile endothelial function.
- The relationship between serum folic acid (FA) levels and penile vascular function in ED patients remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between serum folic acid (FA) levels and penile arterial peak systolic velocity (PSV) in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).
- To determine if FA levels can serve as a predictor for arteriogenic ED.
Main Methods:
- A study included 244 ED patients and 72 healthy controls.
- Serum FA levels were measured, and penile color Doppler ultrasonography (PDU) was performed on ED patients.
- Pearson correlation and ROC curve analysis were used to assess the relationship between FA levels and PDU parameters.
Main Results:
- Patients with arteriogenic ED had lower average serum FA levels (8.08 ng/ml) compared to healthy controls (10.78 ng/ml).
- A positive correlation was observed between serum FA levels and PSV in patients with arteriogenic ED (r=0.605, P<0.001).
- Serum FA level, with a cut-off of 10.045 ng/ml, demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.611 and specificity of 0.824 in distinguishing arteriogenic ED from controls.
Conclusions:
- Serum FA levels are positively correlated with penile arterial blood flow (PSV) in ED patients.
- FA deficiency is identified as an independent risk factor for arteriogenic ED.
- FA levels can help differentiate arteriogenic ED from healthy individuals.
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