Impotence in scleroderma.
Hormonal, neurologic, and vascular factors affecting potency were evaluated in 10 men with scleroderma and in 10 age-matched men with rheumatoid arthritis. Impotence was reported by 6 of the patients with scleroderma and none with rheumatoid arthritis. Studies of serum testosterone, free testosterone index, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, estradiol, thyroxine, and thyrotropin did not show a hormonal basis for impotence in any patient. Neurologic causes were not found on physical examination. Penile blood pressures were markedly abnormal in 4 impotent patients, intermediate in 2 impotent and 3 potent patients, and normal in 11 potent patients. A history of claudication and diminished ankle blood pressures indicated large vessel disease in 2 impotent patients; the remaining 4 impotent men had normal ankle pressures, suggesting that their poor penile blood pressures and impotence were due to small vessel disease, perhaps the small artery lesions of scleroderma.
Nowlin
N S
NS
Brick
J E
JE
Weaver
D J
DJ
Wilson
D A
DA
Judd
H L
HL
Lu
J K
JK
Carlson
H E
HE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary / Q000097:blood; D006177:Gynecomastia / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D006065:Gonadotropins, Pituitary; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine