Coronary phenotypes in patients with erectile dysfunction and silent ischemic heart disease: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
Accumulated evidence shows that erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a precursor of coronary artery disease (CAD).


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in coronary phenotypes between patients with ED and patients with angina pectoris.


METHODS
The study enrolled 30 ED patients (study group) and 120 age-matched angina patients who had no ED (control group). All patients had angiographically documented CAD.


METHODS
The differences in demographic characteristics, biochemical profiles and coronary characteristics between the study and control groups were compared.


RESULTS
Diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity defined by body mass index were more common in the study group than in the control group. The mean number of lesions and mean number of vessels with evidence of CAD were significantly different between the study and control groups (2.3 ± 0.1 vs. 2.2 ± 0.1, P < 0.001; 2.0 ± 0.2 vs. 1.8 ± 0.1, P < 0.001). The distribution of vessel involvement was similar between the groups, except for more common involvement of the ramus in the study group. There were no differences in distribution of lesion sites between the two groups. The control group had a higher percentage of type A stenotic lesions than the study group (16.3% vs. 2.9%, P = 0.004). Significant differences were also observed in type C lesions (52.9% in study group vs. 38.0% in control group, P = 0.026). Fewer calcified, irregular, and bifurcated lesions were present in the study group compared to control.


CONCLUSIONS
This study documented coronary phenotypes in ED patients without symptomatic CAD. Although the artery size hypothesis and ED had well been thought to be a precursor of CAD, the severity of coronary lesions in these patients was not more benign than that observed in angina pectoris patients who have no ED.
Chang
Shih-Tai
ST
Division of Cardiology, Chiayi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital; Chiayi School, Chang Gung Institute of Technology, Chai Yi Hsien, Taiwan.
Chu
Chi-Ming
CM
Hsiao
Ju-Feng
JF
Chung
Chang-Min
CM
Shee
Jia-Jen
JJ
Chen
Chih-Shou
CS
Hsu
Jen-Te
JT
D015992:Body Mass Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan