title: Effect of ADMA levels on severity of erectile dysfunction in chronic kidney disease and other risk factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hormonal, neurogenic, vasculogenic, and psychogenic impairments, as well as endothelial dysfunction may play a role in erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an inhibitor of nitric oxide, which is the key element of ED. ADMA levels are increased in CKD. We aimed to evaluate the effect of serum ADMA, prolactin, testosterone, and hemoglobin levels on erectile function of patients with CKD and control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 42 men with CKD and 25 age-matched controls were enrolled. The patients with CKD were categorized into group 1 and group 2 based on whether they had ED according to their response to International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-EFD). Group 3 was a control group. Serum ADMA, total testosterone prolactin, and hemoglobin levels of the patients were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum ADMA, testosterone, and hemoglobin levels were similar between group 1 and 2, serum prolactin level was significantly high in group 1 than in group 2 or 3 (control group). There was no correlation between ADMA levels and IIEF-EFD scores of patients with CKD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest serum ADMA level is not related with ED in patients with CKD. Also, low testosterone and hemoglobin levels were not significant factors. High levels of serum prolactin are related with ED in patients with CKD.
authors: Cumhuriyet University, Department of Urology, Sivas, Turkey;
authors: Kaan
authors: K
authors: Gökçen
authors: Uludag University, Department of Urology, Bursa, Turkey;
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Kılıçarslan
authors: Uludag University, Department of Urology, Bursa, Turkey;
authors: Burhan
authors: B
authors: Coşkun
authors: Uludag University, Department of Nephrology, Bursa, Turkey.
authors: Alparslan
authors: A
authors: Ersoy
authors: Uludag University, Department of Urology, Bursa, Turkey;
authors: Onur
authors: O
authors: Kaygısız
authors: Uludag University, Department of Urology, Bursa, Turkey;
authors: Yakup
authors: Y
authors: Kordan