Many risk factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED), but it is not clearly evident which of these factors are more relevant among the young population. The aim of this project was to find the most significant risk factors for this disease in young patients. We included 434 patients with organic ED younger than 40 years and 272 agematched controls. All participants had their complete history taken (including the International Index of Erectile Function-5 [IIEF-5]) and underwent physical examination and some laboratory investigations. Univariate analysis was then applied to study the significance of the following factors in the predisposition of ED: smoking, use of recreational drugs, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and chronic pelvic pain syndrome.This analysis showed that smoking, use of recreational drugs, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity were the significant factors (P , .05 for each factor). When these significant factors were studied in the multivariate model, the only factors that sustained the statistical significance were smoking (P , .05; odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.16-2.72) and use of recreational drugs (P , .05; OR, 3.18; 95% CI,). In addition, a negative correlation was detected between the smoking index of the impotent patients and their IIEF-5 score (r 2 5 0.67; P , .05). In conclusion, smoking and the use of recreational drugs are the most significant risk factors for organic ED in patients younger than 40 years.
This study aimed at comparing the effects of atorvastatin and vitamin E on erectile dysfunction in patients initially irresponsive to sildenafil, with investigation into the underlying possible mechanisms. Sixty patients were randomly divided into three groups: the atorvastatin group received 80 mg daily, the vitamin E group received 400 IU daily and the control group received placebo capsules. Patients were examined both before and after 6 weeks of treatment for biochemical tests; Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPO), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and for erectile function tests; International index of erectile function (IIEF-5) scores and Rigiscan. Both atorvastatin and vitamin E showed a statistically significant GPO increase (P<0.05) and a statistically significant IL-6 decrease (P<0.05). Only atorvastatin showed a statistically significant increase in NO (15.19%, P<0.05), eNOS (20.58%, P<0.01), IIEF-5 score (53.1%, P<0.001) and Rigiscan rigidity parameters (P<0.01), in addition to a statistically significant decrease in CRP (57.9%, P<0.01). However, SOD showed a statistically significant increase only after vitamin E intake (23.1%, P<0.05). Both atorvatstain and vitamin E had antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Although activating eNOS by atorvastatin was the real difference, and expected to be the main mechanism for NO increase and for improving erectile dysfunction. Atorvastatin, but not vitamin E, is a promising drug for sildenafil nonresponders.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.