Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 levels are associated with erectile dysfunction in patients without known coronary artery disease

Endothelial dysfunction and microvascular damage play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED). Lp-PLA2 is a calcium-independent member of the phospholipase A2 family and hydrolyses oxidised phospholipids on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles that plays a pivotal role in ox-LDL-induced endothelial dysfunction. The purpose of the current study was to determine the association between Lp-PLA2 levels and ED in patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD). All patients were evaluated for ED and divided into two groups: 88 patients suffering from ED for >1year were enrolled as an experimental group and 88 patients without ED were enrolled as a control group in this study. Diagnosis of ED was based on the International Index of Erectile Function Score-5. Levels of Lp-PLA2 were measured in serum by colorimetric assay. The relationship between Lp-PLA2 levels and ED in patients was evaluated statistically. The mean age of patients with ED group was 59.4 +/- 11.32 and 55.8 +/- 9.67 in the control group. Plasma Lp-PLA2 levels were significantly higher in ED than in the control group (220.3 +/- 66.90 and 174.8 +/- 58.83pgml(-1), respectively, P<0.001). The Lp-PLA2 levels were negatively correlated with score of ED (r=-0.482, P<0.05). In logistic regression analysis, enhanced plasma Lp-PLA2 levels result in approximately 1.2-fold increase in ED [1.22 (1.25-2.76)]. In this study, serum Lp-PLA2 levels were found to be associated with endothelial dysfunction predictive of ED. Serum Lp-PLA2 level appears to be a specific predictor of ED, and it may be used in early prediction of ED in the male population

Association of erectile dysfunction and urolithiasis

Objectives: In recent years, it has been shown that there is association between metabolic syndrome and urinary stone disease. Stone disease and erectile dysfunction (ED) are considered as systemic diseases which are associated with hormonal and metabolic disorders. Therefore we investigated the relationship between ED and urinary tract calculi.Material and methods: 98 male patients with urolithiasis and 59 randomly selected male patients without stone disease were included in the study. Serum testosterone (T) levels were measured and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 questionnaire forms were used to assess ED.Results: The prevalence of ED was found 29% (29 patients) in the urolithiasis group. Sixty-nine patients (71%) had no ED; 16 (16.3%) had mild, 5 (5.1%) had moderate and 8 (8.2%) had severe ED. None of the patients in the control group had severe or modarete ED, six patients (10.2%) had mild ED. Serum T levels were detected at the level of biochemical hypogonadism on 13 patients with stones (13.3%) and T levels were detected at the lower limit in 18 (18.3%) patients.Conclusion: In our study we have shown that ED and low T levels are significantly associated with urolithiasis. We propose that the patients with urolitiasis should be evaluated for ED and hypogonadism