CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE AND SLEEP-RELATED ERECTIONS

Sexual difficulties are highly prevalent in male patients with cardiov ascular diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and hyperchol esterolemia. Recently, several studies have been conducted on the effe cts of cardiovascular diseases, as well as associated drug and nondrug treatments, on nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) and other measures o f sexual function. Although an overall trend has been observed toward decreased NPT in patients with chronic hypertension and other cardiova scular conditions, design and methodological difficulties have been no ted in most studies, and results have been generally inconclusive. Sim ilarly, antihypertensive drugs such as beta-blockers and diuretics hav e been associated with diminished NPT in several studies, although met hodological problems have again been noted. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of antihypertensive drugs on sleep-related erections has no t been determined. Most recently, a positive effect of cholesterol-low ering drugs (pravastatin, lovastatin) on NPT has been observed in midd le-aged males with chronic hypercholesterolemia. Additional studies of the effects of cardiovascular disease on NPT and other measures of se xual function are needed. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.