Erectile dysfunction is associated with increased inflammatory and endothelial-prothrombotic activation, with low fibrinogen and IL-6 showing a 91.7% negative predictive value for excluding ED.
Cross-Sectional (n=141)
Effect estimate: NPV (95% CI 61.5-99.8)
AIMS: Erectile dysfunction (ED) confers an independent cardiovascular risk. We investigated the role of low-grade inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in ED patients with or without coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS AND RESULTS: We evaluated 141 men (age 58.8 years) for ED and CAD through a rigourous investigation (including coronary angiography to reveal occult CAD). Blood levels of inflammatory (hsCRP, IL-6, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha) and endothelial-prothrombotic markers/mediators (vWF, tPA, PAI-1, and fibrinogen) were significantly increased in ED patients and correlated negatively with sexual performance. ED was associated with higher levels of these substances (except for IL-6) on top of CAD alone. For most substances, the unfavourable impact of ED alone was not significantly different than the impact of CAD alone. In multivariable models, these markers/mediators predicted independently ED presence. In our population, the negative predictive value of the combination of fibrinogen <225 mg/dL with IL-6 <1.24 pg/mL for excluding ED was 91.7% (95% CI: 61.5-99.8). CONCLUSION: ED is associated with increased inflammatory and endothelial-prothrombotic activation in men with or without CAD. ED confers an incremental unfavourable impact on the circulating levels of these markers/mediators when combined with CAD. These findings have implications for increased cardiovascular risk in ED patients.
Vlachopoulos et al. (Tue,) conducted a cross-sectional in Erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease (n=141). Erectile dysfunction vs. Without erectile dysfunction was evaluated on Negative predictive value of fibrinogen <225 mg/dL with IL-6 <1.24 pg/mL for excluding ED (NPV, 95% CI 61.5-99.8). Erectile dysfunction is associated with increased inflammatory and endothelial-prothrombotic activation, with low fibrinogen and IL-6 showing a 91.7% negative predictive value for excluding ED.