title: A systematic review of the association between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erectile dysfunction (ED) is considered a vascular impairment that shares many risk factors with cardiovascular disease (CVD). A correlation between ED and CVD has been hypothesized, and ED has been proposed as an early marker of symptomatic CVD.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the relationship between ED and CVD, evaluating the pathophysiologic links between these conditions, and to identify which patients would benefit from cardiologic assessment when presenting with ED.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature review searching Medline, Embase, and Web of Science databases was performed. The search strategy included the terms erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, risk factors, pathophysiology, atherosclerosis, low androgen levels, inflammation, screening, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors alone or in combination. We limited our search to studies published between January 2005 and May 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several studies reported an association between ED and CVD. The link between these conditions might reside in the interaction between androgens, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors that determines endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis, resulting in disorders of penile and coronary circulation. Because penile artery size is smaller compared with coronary arteries, the same level of endothelial dysfunction causes a more significant reduction of blood flow in erectile tissues compared with that in coronary circulation. Thus ED could be an indicator of systemic endothelial dysfunction. From a clinical standpoint, because ED may precede CVD, it can be used as an early marker to identify men at higher risk of CVD events. ED patients at high risk of CVD should undergo detailed cardiologic assessment and receive intensive treatment of risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ED and CVD should be regarded as two different manifestations of the same systemic disorder. ED usually precedes CVD onset, and it might be considered an early marker of symptomatic CVD.
authors.affiliation: Urological Research Institute, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Department of Urology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gandaglia
authors.affiliation: Urological Research Institute, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Department of Urology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.affiliation: Guys and St. Thomas Hospitals London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Good Samaritan Hospital, Los Angeles, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kloner
authors.affiliation: Urological Research Institute, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Department of Urology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montorsi
authors.affiliation: Centro Cardiologico Monzino, Institute of Cardiology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montorsi
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: cvlachop@otenet.gr.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vlachopoulos
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Artery-size hypothesis; Cardiovascular diseases; Coronary artery disease; Erectile dysfunction; Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors; Screening