Erectile dysfunction in patients with chronic viral hepatitis: a systematic review of the literature.
BACKGROUND
This article reviews the literature on epidemiology and pathogenetic factors of erectile dysfunction in patients with chronic viral hepatic (CVH) diseases in men and the potential implications for diagnosis and treatment.


METHODS
A search to identify original articles, reviews and any other article suitable for the purposes of this review was conducted by combining the following terms: erectile dysfunction and/or sexual dysfunction, chronic viral hepatitis, hepatitis B virus infection and hepatitis C virus infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this review have led to the following main observations: i) there is scarce documentation on the association between CVH and sexual dysfunction; ii) hormonal impairment seems to be a major component in the development of erectile dysfunction in CVH; however, published evidence concerning the contribution of other pathogenetic factors is rare and inconclusive and iii) available treatment options for CVH potentially contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction in these patients. Due to the scarce body of evidence, more research is needed to better clarify the mechanisms underlying the association between CVH and sexual dysfunction, the impact of therapy and associated comorbidities on sexual dysfunction and the role of pharmacological treatments in the management of these patients.
University Federico II, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odonto-stomatologic Sciences , Naples , Italy +39 0815452959 ; +39 0815452959 ; ferdinando-fusco@libero.it.
Ferdinando
F
Fusco
Gianluca
G
D'Anzeo
Andrea
A
Rossi
Carmine
C
Sciorio
Antonio Riccardo
AR
Buonomo
Roberta
R
d'Emmanuele di Villa Bianca
Guglielmo
G
Borgia
Vincenzo
V
Mirone
Ivan
I
Gentile
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D013739:Testosterone