title: How predictable is the erectile function of patients with epilepsy?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often reported by patients with epilepsy and may be related to endocrine system abnormalities, side effects of antiepileptic drugs, psychiatric comorbidities, and family or social difficulties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify independent predictor factors for ED in patients with epilepsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  the five-question form of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5).
  
  
  METHODS
  Independent predictive factors for ED evaluated by the IIEF-5 questionnaire in 36 patients (mean age: 39 years) with focal epilepsy (mean: 6 seizures/month) were identified by multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight (21.1%) patients were asymptomatic. Among the symptomatic patients, 11 (28.9%) had mild dysfunction, 10 (26.3%) had moderate dysfunction, and 9 (23.7%) showed severe ED. The multiple linear regression model including family income (B=0.005; p=0.05), education levels in years (B=0.54; p=0.03), depressive symptoms determined by HADS depression subscale (B=-0.49; p=0.03), and prolactin levels (B=-0.45; p=0.07) showed a moderate association (r=0.64) with the IIEF questionnaire and explained 41% (r(2)=0.41) of its variation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Erectile dysfunction is highly prevalent in patients with focal epilepsies. Education, depressive symptoms, and prolactin levels can predict erectile dysfunction in up to 41% of patients with epilepsy. This preliminary report justifies further efforts to make a large sample size study to identify independent biomarkers and therapeutic targets for ED treatment in patients with epilepsy.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências Aplicadas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fábio Cavalcanti de Faria
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências Aplicadas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Fernando
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ronsoni
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências Aplicadas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hohl
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lúcia Sukis
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Claudino
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências Aplicadas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Ambulatório de Transtornos Psiquiátricos Resistentes ao Tratamento Farmacológico (REFRACTA), Serviço de Psiquiatria, Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Centro de Epilepsia do Estado de Santa Catarina (CEPES), Hospital Governador Celso Ramos, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Paim
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências Aplicadas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Ambulatório de Transtornos Psiquiátricos Resistentes ao Tratamento Farmacológico (REFRACTA), Serviço de Psiquiatria, Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Libório
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Schwarzbold
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências Aplicadas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Ambulatório de Transtornos Psiquiátricos Resistentes ao Tratamento Farmacológico (REFRACTA), Serviço de Psiquiatria, Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Centro de Epilepsia do Estado de Santa Catarina (CEPES), Hospital Governador Celso Ramos, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guarnieri
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências Aplicadas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil; Unidade de Neuropatologia, Serviço de Patologia, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jean Costa
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kátia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Centro de Neurociências Aplicadas, Hospital Universitário, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil; Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil; Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, HU, UFSC, Florianópolis, Brazil. Electronic address: rogerwalz@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D011388:Prolactin
keywords: Epilepsy; Erectile dysfunction; Hormones; Predictive models