AB21. Association between vascular evaluation and erection hardness score in the patients with ED

Main causes of erectile dysfunction (ED) are attributed to vascular endothelial dysfunction and impaired blood flow due to arteriosclerotic changes. It is well known that vascular endothelial dysfunction has related to life-style related disease, as well as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and others. And it is widely accepted that ED is the good predictor of cardiovascular event. There are clinically some methods to evaluate the atherosclerosis in men such as FMD, pulse wave velocity (PWV) and carotid ultrasonography. In our study, we clinically examined the association among the erection hardness score (EHS), PWV, and the presence of carotid arterial plaques. PWV is a measure of arterial stiffness and a marker of vascular damages. Higher PWV means that the vessels are less elasticity. Because PWV is gradually increased by age, we evaluated the correct value which is PWV at the first examination minus reference PWV by age. Our study revealed that patients with lower score of EHS at the first visit had higher PWV and were more likely to have carotid arterial plaques, and therefore, a high possibility of organic ED. Patients with Organic ED were significantly higher than those with psychogenic ED in PWV. And also our study indicates that the hardness of the penis can be an easier, clearer and more sensitive index of atherosclerosis.