Tehran University Medical Journal

Erectile dysfunction is an important problem for men and their families which has an organic cause in about 50 percent of cases. When there is a vasculogenic etiology for this defect, radiologic assessment is unavoidable. Cavernosometry and Cavernosography are ultimate procedures for diagnosis of venous leakage. There is no reliable data about this defects in Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of venous leakage in patients with erectile dysfunction by Pharmarco-Cavernosometry and Cavernosography. In this case series study, 100 patient with erectile dysfunction who referred to radiologic ward in Sina hospital was selected and Pharmarco-Cavernosometry and Cavernosography were conducted for them. In Cavernosometry, after injection of Prostaglandin E1 and salin normal infusion into corpus covernosum, the pressure was determined. In cavernosography, diluted omnipaque was injected and venous leakage and other defects were recognized. Myoclinic's criteria was use for analysis of the results. Mean age of patients was 35.6±11.6. Most of the cases were in 20 to 40 age group. The frequency of venous leakage based on 50 mmHg reduction in pressure (from 150 mmHg), after 30 seconds discountinuance of normal salin infusion was 90 percent. This figure based on the ratio of Maintenance Flow Rate to Induced Flow Rate, was more than 92 percent. The frequency of venous leakage according to Cavernosography was 89 percent. There was no significant side effects in any of cases induced by procedures. The results of study, shows the high prevalence of venous leakage in patients referring for erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction is an important problem for men and their families which has an organic cause in about 50 percent of cases. When there is a vasculogenic etiology for this defect, radiologic assessment is unavoidable. Cavernosometry and Cavernosography are ultimate procedures for diagnosis of venous leakage. There is no reliable data about this defects in Iran. The objective of this study was to determine the rate of venous leakage in patients with erectile dysfunction by Pharmarco-Cavernosometry and Cavernosography. In this case series study, 100 patient with erectile dysfunction who referred to radiologic ward in Sina hospital was selected and Pharmarco-Cavernosometry and Cavernosography were conducted for them. In Cavernosometry, after injection of Prostaglandin E1 and salin normal infusion into corpus covernosum, the pressure was determined. In cavernosography, diluted omnipaque was injected and venous leakage and other defects were recognized. Myoclinic's criteria was use for analysis of the results. Mean age of patients was 35.6±11.6. Most of the cases were in 20 to 40 age group. The frequency of venous leakage based on 50 mmHg reduction in pressure (from 150 mmHg), after 30 seconds discountinuance of normal salin infusion was 90 percent. This figure based on the ratio of Maintenance Flow Rate to Induced Flow Rate, was more than 92 percent. The frequency of venous leakage according to Cavernosography was 89 percent. There was no significant side effects in any of cases induced by procedures. The results of study, shows the high prevalence of venous leakage in patients referring for erectile dysfunction.

Background: It is well known that erectile dysfunction is most commonly associated with diabetes, affecting 35% to 75% of men with diabetes mellitus. Several studies have been carried out to find appropriate strategies for treatment of diabetes-induced erectile dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of acute administration of the endogenous cannabinoid anandamide in vitro to alter the NANC-mediated relaxation of corpus cavernosum from diabetic rats and the possible role of nitric oxide in this manner.

Methods: Diabetes was induced by the administration of streptozotocin for eight weeks. Corpora cavernosa were isolated in organ baths for measurement of agonist-evoked or electrical field stimulation (EFS)-evoked smooth muscle tensions.

Results: The neurogenic relaxation of phenylephrine (7.5 µM) precontracted isolated corporal strips was impaired in diabetic animals. Anandamide (0.3, 1 and 3 µM) enhanced the relaxant responses to EFS in diabetic strips in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was antagonized by either the selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist AM251 (1 µM) or the selective vanilloid receptor antagonist capsazepine (3 µM). Concurrent administration of partially effective doses of L-arginine (10 µM) and anandamide (0.3 µM) exerted a synergistic improvement in EFS-induced relaxation of diabetic strips (p<0.001). The relaxant responses to the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside of the subjects in the diabetic and control groups were similar.

Conclusion: For the first time, we demonstrated that acute administration of an endogenous cannabinoid, alone or in combination with L-arginine could improve the NO-mediated relaxation of cavernosal smooth muscle in diabetic rats and this effect was mediated by cannabinoid CB1 and vanilloid VR1 receptors within the tissue.
 

Background: Sexual dysfunction in males is characterized by the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for a satisfactory sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction is a common disorder in males and intracavernosal injection of papaverine followed by color Doppler ultrasonography of the penis is used to diagnose and treat vascular impotence. In this study, we examined the relationship between changes in peak systolic velocity (PSV) and erectile dysfunction with vascular cause after a cavernosal injection of papaverin.

Methods: We performed this self-controlled clinical trial in Shahid Hasheminejad Hospital in Tehran, Iran during 2010 and 2011. The study population consisted of 90 patients with erectile dysfunction. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) of cavernosal arteries was evaluated before and after injection of 40-80 mg papaverine and it was compared in the patients with and without response to injection.

Results: The mean age of participants was 47.7 13.7 years. Response to papaverine injection was positive in 41(45.5%) patients. The mean PSV values were 14.68+5.65 and 53.74+18.8 cm/s before and after the injection, respectively (P<0.001). A PSV cut-off point of 10 cm/s was determined for the condition before injection. The sensitivity and specificity of the value for diagnosis of arterial erectile dysfunction were calclulated as 50% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion: A PSV cut-off point of 10 cm/s in flaccid status before papaverine injection has a low sensitivity but high specificity for the diagnosis of arterial erectile dysfunction. Future studies with sufficient cases of arterial erectile dysfunction are necessary for final judgments and suggestion a new cut off point.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is an important problem in men and an organic cause is found in about 50% of cases. When a vasculogenic etiology is suspected, imaging assessments are of great help. Cavernosography is traditionally recognized as an imaging modality for evaluation of venous leakage in men with impotency. We employed CT cavernosography as a novel technique for demonstrating penile venous anatomy and leaking veins.
Methods: In the present case series study, we recruited 45 patients with erectile dysfunction by convenient sampling at Hazrat Rasoul Akram Hospital in Tehran, Iran, during one year (1390). The patients had previously been diagnosed with venous incompetency by Doppler study. After intracavernosal injection of prostaglandin E1, we injected sterile normal saline into the corpora cavernosa to achieve penile erection. Later, we injected contrast media into the corpus cavernosum, which was followed by CT scan of the penis and pelvic area to show the venous anatomy and leakage sites.
Results: The mean age of the patients was 35.8±8.9 years. 36 (80%) patients had venous leakage in crural veins, 27 (60%) in cavernosal veins, 27 (60%) in circumflex veins, 24 (52.3%) in urethral veins, 21 (46.7%) in deep dorsal vein, 3 (6.7%) in para-arterial veins and 3 (6.7%) in corpus spongiosum.
Conclusion: The results of this study show the high prevalence of venous leakage in patients referring for erectile dysfunction. Moreover, CT cavernosography was shown to be a useful method for evaluating penile venous system and its related leakage sites which are important for surgical planning.

Background: Arterial insufficiency is a well-recognized etiology of erectile dysfunction. Moreover, nowadays it is appreciated that it can herald silent coronary artery disease in involved patients. However color Doppler study of penis with intracavernosal injection (ICI) of Papaverin, as a helpful diagnostic study, is somehow time consuming and technically demanding, as a result, radiologists are reluctant to accomplish. Hence, in a search for more plausible parameters, we were determined to validate PSV in flaccid state for predicting possible arterial insufficiency in patients.

Methods: In a cross sectional study to evaluate diagnostic tests, accomplished in Hasheminejad Urology center in Tehran throughout 2011, we studied 59 patients with the complaint of erectile dysfunction. They were referred to our ultrasound clinics by urologists in order to undergo color Doppler study of penis by ICI of Papaverin. They were studied comprehensively before and after injection. Primary and secondary diagnostic criteria of arterial disease in color Doppler and consequently the physiologic event of full erection were designated as gold standard diagnostic considerations. The resulted data were matched and analyzed with SPSS software.

Results: Fifty nine patients underwent the study, with the mean age of 45.6 ± 13.1 (24 to 74 year old). Twenty two cases revealed normal study (non-organic causes as 37.3%), 29 were classified as venous leakage, and eight of them demonstrate arterial insufficiency in the study. A flaccid state PSV of 10.5 cm/s as cut off had a sensitivity of 93.8%, specifity of 91.3% and negative predictive value of 93.8% to predict arterial disease.

Conclusion: A flaccid state PSV of 10.5 has a suitable statistical value to proclaim arterial insufficiency in cavernosal arteries in patients with erectile dysfunction as a complaint.