Plasma transforming growth factor-beta1 levels in patients with erectile dysfunction.
- Author:
Ji-Kan RYU
1
;
Sun U SONG
;
Hyung-Ki CHOI
;
Do-Hwan SEONG
;
Sang-Min YOON
;
Seong-Jin KIM
;
Jun-Kyu SUH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Adult; Aged; Arteriosclerosis; complications; physiopathology; Diabetes Mellitus; physiopathology; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Erectile Dysfunction; blood; etiology; psychology; Female; Humans; Hyperlipidemias; complications; physiopathology; Hypertension; complications; physiopathology; Impotence, Vasculogenic; blood; psychology; Male; Middle Aged; Penis; diagnostic imaging; Risk Factors; Smoking; physiopathology; Transforming Growth Factor beta; blood; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Ultrasonography
- From: Asian Journal of Andrology 2004;6(4):349-353
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
AIMTo evaluate the plasma TGF-beta1 level in erectile dysfunction (ED) patients of various causes.
METHODSSixty-two patients with ED and 26 potent men were subjected to the study. Based on multidisciplinary work-ups, including medical history, physical examinations, blood tests with lipid profile and hormones, penile duplex Doppler ultrasonogram and neurophysiological tests, causes for ED were classified as psychogenic (n=15), neurogenic (n=16) and vasculogenic (n=31). The plasma TGF-beta1 level was measured by the ELISA method.
RESULTSThe plasma TGF-beta1 level was significantly increased in the ED group (6.7+/-4.9 ng/mL), compared to the control (4.0 +/-2.1 ng/mL) (P<0.01). In the ED groups, there was a significant increase in the vasculogenic group (9.0 +/-5.5 ng/mL), compared to the psychogenic (3.8 +/-1.8 ng/mL) and neurogenic groups (4.8+/-3.2 ng/mL) (P<0.01). Of the vascular risk factors, both the smoking (7.5 +/-4.7 ng/mL) and dyslipidemia groups (7.4+/-4.4 ng/mL) showed significantly increased plasma TGF-beta1 levels, compared to the non-smokers (5.5+/-2.8 ng/mL), and those without dyslipidemia (4.8+/-2.8 ng/mL) (P<0.05).
CONCLUSIONVascular risk factors are associated with an elevated plasma TGF-beta1 level, which may contribute to cavernous fibrosis and ED.
