[Erectile dysfunction: the role of laboratory in the diagnostic and pronostic evaluation].
OBJECTIVE
To review and to update the different laboratory tests recommended for etiologic diagnostic of erectile dysfunction and to evaluate the effect these tests could have on the pronostic and therapeutic strategy of this pathology.


METHODS
We review the last articles related with etiopathogenics and pathophysiologics mechanisms of erectile dysfunction, including our studies on endothelial dysfunction and erectile dysfunction.


RESULTS
The depth and extension of the laboratory protocol in erectile dysfunction is not necessaryly the same in all situations. The age, coincidence of comorbilities, set a different limit between patients demanding complementaries investigations that go beyond the basic request.


CONCLUSIONS
The etiopathogenic laboratory work up in erectile dysfunction is currently changing incorporating news tests. The traditional search of commorbilities like diabetes, hepatic dysfunction, hypogonadism, hyperglucemia is getting broad with recents analitics evaluations related with potential markers of endothelial disease.
García Cardoso
J V
JV
Cátedra y Servicio de Urología, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid.
López Farré
A
A
Vela Navarrete
R
R
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis