Fibrinogen, lipoprotein (a) and lipids in patients with erectile dysfunction - A preliminary study

Background. Erectile dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular risk fac tors (e.g. hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia and diabetes) and is more co mmon in patients with cardiovascular disease. We therefore assessed the pre valence of two predictors of vascular events, fibrinogen and lipoprotein-a, in patients with and without erectile dysfunction. Methods. Men with erectile dysfunction (48 non-smokers 48 smokers), aged 45 -70 years, were compared with controls (21 non-smokers, 21 smokers) with no rmal erectile function and no known pathology. Results. Serum total cholesterol was significantly higher in non-smokers wi th erectile dysfunction compared to both control non-smokers and erectile d ysfunction smokers. Men with erectile dysfunction who smoked had a signific antly higher plasma fibrinogen level than control smokers. Similarly, men w ith erectile dysfunction, who did not smoke had higher levels of plasma fib rinogen compared to both smokers and non-smokers without erectile dysfuncti on. No significant difference in serum lipoprotein-a values was found. Conclusions. These findings support the concept that cardiovascular risk fa ctors are predictors of erectile dysfunction and that this may be another m anifestation of vascular disease.