Abstract
Understanding the physiology of endothelial function in health and disease is critical to understanding the physiologic substrate of erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular health in men. Erectile dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a marker for cardiovascular disease in men. The recent availability of clinically applicable methods to study endothelial dysfunction (reactive hyperemia) and vascular stiffness (augmentation index) has enhanced the ability of the clinician to incorporate the study of vascular health in the clinic. We discuss and review techniques and biomarkers that are applicable at the bedside in the context of diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of erectile dysfunction. We articulate a framework for diagnosis, treatment, and future clinical investigation in this growing field.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Rajfer J, Aronson WJ, Bush PA, Dorey FJ, Ignarro LJ. Nitric oxide as a mediator of relaxation of the corpus cavernosum in response to nonadrenergic, noncholinergic neurotransmission. N Engl J Med. 1992;326(2):90–4.
Meldrum DR, Gambone JC, Morris MA, Meldrum DA, Esposito K, Ignarro LJ. The link between erectile and cardiovascular health: the canary in the coal mine. Am J Cardiol. 2011;108(4):599–606.
Ludmer PL, Selwyn AP, Shook TL, et al. Paradoxical vasoconstriction induced by acetylcholine in atherosclerotic coronary arteries. N Engl J Med. 1986;315(17):1046–51.
Celermajer DS. Reliable endothelial function testing: at our fingertips? Circulation. 2008;117(19):2428–30.
Celermajer DS, Sorensen KE, Gooch VM, et al. Non-invasive detection of endothelial dysfunction in children and adults at risk of atherosclerosis. Lancet. 1992;340(8828):1111–5.
Rozanski A, Qureshi E, Bauman M, Reed G, Pillar G, Diamond GA. Peripheral arterial responses to treadmill exercise among healthy subjects and atherosclerotic patients. Circulation. 2001;103(16):2084–9.
McVary KT. Alterations in sexual function and reproduction. In: Fauci AS, editor. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine. New York: McGraw Hill; 2008. p. 297–9.
Haller MJ, Silverstein JH, Shuster JJ. Correlation between radial artery tonometry- and fingertip tonometry-derived augmentation index in children with type 1 diabetes. Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2007;4(1):66.
Hamburg NM, Palmisano J, Larson MG, et al. Relation of brachial and digital measures of vascular function in the community: the Framingham heart study. Hypertension. 2011;57(3):390–6.
Woo KS, Chook P, Yu CW, et al. Effects of diet and exercise on obesity-related vascular dysfunction in children. Circulation. 2004;109(16):1981–6.
Rigo F, Pratali L, Palinkas A, et al. Coronary flow reserve and brachial artery reactivity in patients with chest pain and “false positive” exercise-induced ST-segment depression. Am J Cardiol. 2002;89(9):1141–4.
Fisher ND, Hughes M, Gerhard-Herman M, Hollenberg NK. Flavanol-rich cocoa induces nitric-oxide-dependent vasodilation in healthy humans. J Hypertension. 2003;21(12):2281–6.
Mohandas R, Segal MS. Endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial vesicles—what is the significance for patients with chronic kidney disease? Blood Purif. 2010;29(2):158–62.
Koc M, Bihorac A, Segal MS. Circulating endothelial cells as potential markers of the state of the endothelium in hemodialysis patients. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(4):704–12.
La Vignera S, Condorelli R, Vicari E, D’Agata R, Calogero A. Aerobic physical activity improves endothelial function in the middle-aged patients with erectile dysfunction. Aging Male. 2011;14(4):265–72.
La Vignera S, Condorelli R, Vicari E, D’Agata R, Calogero A. Original immunophenotype of blood endothelial progenitor cells and microparticles in patients with isolated arterial erectile dysfunction and late onset hypogonadism: effects of androgen replacement therapy. Aging Male. 2011;14(3):183–9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Srinivas, T.R., Segal, M.S. (2012). Clinical Testing of Endothelial Function in Erectile Dysfunction. In: Shoskes, D. (eds) Urological Men’s Health. Current Clinical Urology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-900-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-900-6_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ
Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-899-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-900-6
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)