MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVALUATION OF DIABETIC IMPOTENCE

Patients referring to the Urology and/or Endocrinology Departments of Ankara Medical School with complaints of diabetes mellitus (DM) and re lated complications were evaluated during the last year. A detailed hi story was obtained and all of the patients were questioned especially about sexual function problems. Following this evaluation, all patient s were divided into two main groups, i.e. patients with sexual disorde rs, and those with normal sexual function. Factors such as BPH, cerebr osclerosis and other important vascular-neurologic pathologies which m ay play a role in the etiology of impotence were excluded from the stu dy and 38 patients with sexual dysfunction and 15 with normal sexual a ctivities have undergone further evaluation. Following routine blood a nd urine analyses, serum hormone levels (testosterone, FSH, LH, prolac tin) were determined. Penile color-flow doppler analysis, cavernosomet ry, cavernosography, bulbocavernous reflex latency time and evaluation of somatosensory evoked potentials were performed. Additionally, all patients were evaluated from the psychiatric aspect using the Hamilton depression scale and MMPI questionnaire. The presence of vascular or neurologic pathology in 89.4% of our patients and of both pathologies in 39.4% of the patients, indicated the importance of multifactorial e valuation of diabetic impotence in order to plan a complete and effici ent therapy program.