Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in subjects with erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often the first clinical sign of endothelial dysfunction and may precede overt cardiovascular diseases. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells migrate into the peripheral circulation to promote endothelial repair. The number of circulating progenitor cells is reduced in patients with cardiovascular risk factor. The objective of our study was to determine the number of these cells in patients with ED both with and without cardiovascular risk factors. These subjects have lower number of circulating progenitor cells, confirming the existence of an endothelial dysfunction and supplying the evidence that ED may be the first symptom of an endothelial damage.
Foresta
C
C
Department of Histology, Microbiology, and Medical Biotechnologies, Centre for Male Gamete Cryopreservation, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. carlo.foresta@unipd.it
Caretta
N
N
Lana
A
A
Cabrelle
A
A
Palù
G
G
Ferlin
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D002452:Cell Count; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*