Epinephrine is associated with both erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) have a higher incidence of insulin resistance (IR) when compared with controls.


METHODS
Prospective case-control study.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
Twenty-nine nondiabetic men aged 18-66 years were enrolled. Of these, 28 completed the study: 17 had ED, and 11 did not.


METHODS
Validated ED questionnaires, examination, serum hormones evaluation, and oral glucose tolerance testing.


METHODS
Association of IR with ED.


RESULTS
The association between worsening degrees of both lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and ED was reaffirmed, as was a potential correlation between the two-epinephrine. There was a negative association between serum levels of epinephrine and scores on the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Dysfunction for ED (Spearman correlation coefficient = -0.38). On the other hand, men with ED were not more likely to have IR compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Epinephrine may be the common link between ED and LUTS.
Trussell
J C
JC
Division of Urology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, P.O. Box 850, Hershey, PA 17033, USA. jtrussell@psu.edu
Kunselman
Allen R
AR
Legro
Richard S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D004837:Epinephrine