title: Improved erectile function after cardiac resynchronization therapy in a patient with heart failure-a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erectile dysfunction (ED) is very common among heart failure patients and has a very dramatic, negative impact on patients' quality of life. Both ED and heart failure have several risk factors in common; however, little data exist on the correlation between the heart failure-targeted interventions and improvement of ED.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report a case of improved sexual function after cardiac resynchronization.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 63-year-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy and long-standing ED, who experienced significant improvement of his sexual function following biventricular pacing device implantation. Notably, earlier interventions attempting to improve his ED, namely, heart failure medication adjustments and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, have failed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following cardiac resynchronization therapy, patient's erectile function improved without any other ED-specific treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of improved sexual function in a patient with heart failure and ED following cardiac resynchronization therapy. Although the exact mechanisms remain unknown, we believe that cardiac resynchronization improves ED through improved cardiac and endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Cedars Sinai Heart Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
authors.forename: Damian
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Domanski
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosanio
authors.forename: Ernst R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection; D016896:Treatment Outcome