title: Age-matched cavernous peak systolic velocity: a highly sensitive parameter in the diagnosis of arteriogenic erectile dysfunction.
abstract: Recently it has been reported that there is a strict correlation between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular diseases, but the importance of such relationship still needs to be addressed. Ultrasonographic peak systolic velocity (PSV), is considered a reliable parameter for the diagnosis of arteriogenic ED. However, the cut-off value of PSV<30 cm/s has sufficient sensitivity only in the diagnosis of advanced arteriogenic ED and it is not representative of peripheral vascular alterations. In the present study, we set up an age-adjustment of PSV - calculated with the formula PSV <6.73+age x 0.7 - that permits a more accurate diagnosis of vascular aetiology in ED patients and may predict the presence of carotid wall alterations. We studied 179 consecutive subjects (mean age 52 years, range 23-79 years), with a history of ED of at least 6 months, by means of penile colour doppler ultrasonography (P-CDU) and common carotid arteries colour doppler ultrasonography (CCA-CDU) between June 2003 and September 2004. Statistical analysis was carried out with the statistical software R. PSV and CCAD values showed a statistically significant negative correlation. Age adjustment further improved this relationship permitting to identify an age-dependent PSV cut-off given by the formula PSV <6.73+age x 0.7. The age-adjusted PSV cut-off allows an accurate interpretation of vascular aetiology in ED patients and predicts the presence of carotid wall alterations, from the intima-media pathologic thickness to the plaque formation, with high values of both sensitivity and specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology, Microbiology and Medical Biotechnologies, Centre for Male Gamete Cryopreservation, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caretta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palego
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roverato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selice
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferlin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foresta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity