Total testosterone levels and the effect of sildenafil on type 2 diabetics with erectile dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
Hypotestosteronemia has been reported in approximately half of type 2 diabetic men in general. This study aims to assess serum total testosterone levels in type 2 diabetics with erectile dysfunction and to correlate the degree of improvement between sildenafil citrate and testosterone levels.


METHODS
A cross sectional and prospective comparative interventional study was conducted at the Diabetic Clinic of Assalam Teaching Hospital in Mosul, during the period from January 1, 2009 through to December 31, 2011. The study enrolled 120 type 2 diabetic males with erectile dysfunction who were analyzed with regard to age, duration of diabetes, duration and severity of erectile dysfunction, serum total testosteron levels and the degree of response to sildenafil citrate in terms of testosterone levels. The data were statistically analyzed using the independent two-sample Student t test, χ (2) test and Pearson correlation test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
Thirty six percent of type 2 diabetic males with erectile dysfunction were found to have low serum testosterone levels. The hypotestosteronemic and normotestosteronemic subgroups were not significantly different in terms of mean age, duration of diabetes, reduction of libido, and reduction in erectile function. The rate and the degree of improvement of erection by sildenafil in the normo-and-hypotestosteronemic respondents were not significantly different, but the degree of improvement by sildenafil was significantly correlated to testosterone levels among the hypotestosteronemic group.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypotestosteronemia was found in 36% of type 2 diabetic males with erectile dysfunction. The degree of improvement of erectile dysfunction by sildenafil was directly proportional to the serum testosterone levels among the hypotestosteronemic group. Therapeutic supplement with testosterone preparation in the hypotestosteronemic diabetics with erectile dysfunction may improve their response to sildenafil.
Department of Medicine Nineveh College of Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
Nabeel Najib Fadhil
NN
Hadeed
Department of Pharmacology, Mosul College of Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
Imad Abdul-Jabar
IA
Thanoon
Department of Biochemistry, Nineveh College of Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq.
Samir Burhanaldin
SB
Al-Mukhtar
Erectile dysfunction; Hypotestosteronemia, Low testosterone; Sildenafil; Total testosterone level; Type 2 diabetes