title: Amino-terminal pro-C-type natriuretic peptide is associated with the presence, severity, and duration of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelial dysfunction is a key event in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction (ED) and generalized vascular disease. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a paracrine molecule that effects endothelial integrity and vascular tone.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the role of CNP in men with vasculogenic ED.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two consecutive men (age: 57+/-10 yr) with nonpsychogenic and nonhormonal ED for >6 mo and free of cardiovascular disease who were referred to the Cardiovascular Diseases and Sexual Health Unit of our Department for evaluation of ED were compared with 31 subjects with normal erectile function matched for age, body mass index, and traditional risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Vasculogenic ED was diagnosed according to comprehensive history, physical examination, Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM-5) scoring, hormonal testing, and penile color-Doppler ultrasound. Amino-terminal proCNP (NT-proCNP) was measured in plasma with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to controls, ED patients had significantly lower NT-proCNP levels (0.21+/-0.08 pmol/l in ED patients vs 0.34+/-0.07 pmol/l in control subjects; p<0.001). NT-proCNP levels were associated with erectile performance as expressed by SHIM-5 score (r=0.57; p<0.001), even after adjusting for confounders. There was also an inverse linear relationship between ED duration and NT-proCNP levels (p<0.05). In patients with arteriogenic ED, there was a positive correlation of NT-proCNP levels with peak systolic velocity (PSV) (r=0.51; p=0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CNP levels are associated with the presence, severity, and duration of ED. These findings provide further insight into the role of CNP in the pathophysiology of ED.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Diseases and Sexual Health Unit, 1st Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. cvlachop@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vlachopoulos
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ioakeimidis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Terentes-Printzios
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rokkas
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aznaouridis
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baou
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bratsas
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fassoulakis
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: C480579:amino-terminal pro-C-type natriuretic peptide, human; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type