Relationship between pseudoexfoliation syndrome and erectile dysfunction: a possible cause of endothelial dysfunction for development of erectile dysfunction

OBJECTIVES: Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) is a common age-related fibrillopathy related to accumulation of pseudoexfoliation material (PEM) in certain places in the body, especially blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is another condition related to vascular pathology and in this study it is aimed to identify the relationship between ED and PES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 92 patients were investigated. There were 34 patients in the PES group and 58 patients in the control group. Presence of diabetes, hypertension, smoking history, BMI, and serum levels of lipids and testosterone were recorded. The groups were compared for ED rates and severity. Also logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for development of ED. RESULTS: Mean age of the population was 67.3. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the presece of DM, HT, smoking, BMI and laboratory measurements. ED rate was significantly higher in the PES group (70.6% vs 48.3%, p=0.002). Also, severe ED rate was higher in the PES group (p=0.002). PES was detected as an independent risk factors for the development of ED. CONCLUSION: ED is a possible consequence of PES. ED rate and severity is found to be higher in the PES group and PES is detected as an independent risk factor for development of ED. Patients with PES should be informed about development of ED and further prospective trials with objective measurements of penile blood flow should be conducted to verify the erectile status and penile blood fow in PES patients.