Evaluation of blood platelet count and function in patients with erectile dysfunction

Abstract

We evaluated and compared blood total platelet count, mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) values of patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and control subjects. A total 57 male patients (mean age 49.7 ± 12 years) with ED and 59 control men (mean age 49.7 ± 10.7 years) were included in the study. All patients were evaluated using medical history with International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores, physical examination and routine blood analysis. Total blood count, including white blood cell (WBC), total platelet counts, MPV and PDW parameters, were recorded in both groups. MPV values were detected to be significantly higher in patients with ED than control group: 10.7 ± 1 and 9.72 ± 1.5, respectively (P = 0.001). Similarly, PDW values were significantly higher in patients with ED than control group: 14.6 ± 2.8 and 12.9 ± 1.9, respectively (P = 0.001). However, mean platelet and mean WBC counts were similar in both groups (P = 0.45). We demonstrated that MPV and PDW values significantly increased in patients with ED compared with the control group. According to these findings, platelet function might play an important role in patients with ED that warrants further research.

Blood platelet activity in men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction

“…These results are compatible with the previous similar studies in terms of MPV values (4-9)., but not in terms of platelet count. According to Aldemir et al (9), MPV values in the patients with vasculogenic ED increased significantly when compared to the control group but there was no change in the platelet count. By contrast, according to Çiftçi et al (8), both MPV value and platelet count increased significantly in the patients with vasculogenic ED.…”

“…According to this, those whose IIEF-ED score was < 26 were regarded to have ED. The patients were grouped according to their erectile function area scores (Q1-5 and Q15) as mild ED (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24)(25), moderate ED (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16) and severe ED (6)(7)(8)(9)(10). Penile color Doppler evaluation was conducted on the basis of the criteria proposed by La Vignera et al (16).…”

“…Additionaly, ED can be an early manifestation of coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease (2). In recent years, there have been some studies which report that mean platelet volume (MPV) increases in patients with vasculogenic ED (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). MPV is a marker of platelet size that is easily measured by automated blood counters and routinely available at a relatively low cost and reflects indirectly platelet activity.…”

“…Increased platelet activity probably plays a role in the etiopathogenesis of vasculogenic ED with such atherothrombotic process. The relationship between vasculogenic ED and platelet activity has been investigated in some studies (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9). But these studies contain some conflicting results.…”

“…But these studies contain some conflicting results. For example, while Çiftçi et al (8) stated that both platelet count (PLT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) increased in vasculogenic ED, Aldemir et al (9) reported that platelet count was normal. In this study, it was aimed to investigate some hematological parameters such as hemoglobin (Hgb), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), PLT and MPV in patients with vasculogenic ED.…”