title: Can Impaired Elasticity of Aorta Predict the Success of Vardenafil Treatment in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction?
abstract: Objective. Vardenafil is used in treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) but reveals variable clinical outcomes. Here, we aimed to evaluate the role of aortic elasticity in predicting vardenafil success among patients with ED. Methods. Sixty-one consecutive male subjects with primary ED and indication for vardenafil treatment were included. All subjects fulfilled 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) before the vardenafil treatment. Pretreatment aortic stiffness index (ASI) and aortic distensibility (AD) were obtained echocardiographically. Following two-month vardenafil treatment, the patients were reevaluated with IIEF-5. Pretreatment, posttreatment, and ΔIIEF-5 scores and ASI values were compared. Results. Average age was 54 ± 8 years. Pretreatment and posttreatment IIEF-5 and ΔIIEF-5 scores were 9.1 ± 2.5; 18.5 ± 2.3; and 9.4 ± 3, respectively. Mean ASI and AD values were 3.10 ± 0.54 and 4.13 ± 2.55 1/(10(3)  ×  mmHg) accordingly. ASI value of severe pretreatment ED (n = 15) was significantly higher than that of mild-moderate pretreatment ED (n = 12) (p < 0.001). All pretreatment IIEF-5 scores increased significantly compared to posttreatment IIEF-5 scores (p < 0.001). ASI values were significantly correlated to pretreatment IIEF-5 scores (p < 0.001) and ΔIIEF-5 value (p < 0.001) but not to posttreatment IIEF-5 score. Conclusion. Aortic elasticity was impaired in accordance with degree of ED. The subjects with higher ASI values obtained more benefits from vardenafil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bozok University, 66020 Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ede
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Bozok University, 66020 Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Serhat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanik
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospital, 21010 Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Barış
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yaylak
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Bozok University, 66020 Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kürşad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zengın
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Bozok University, 66020 Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sebahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Albayrak
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Clinic, Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Education and Research Hospital, 21010 Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akkaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Memorial Diyarbakir Hospital, 21070 Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cegergun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bozok University, 66020 Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bozok University, 66020 Yozgat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alirıza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erbay