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The Effects of High Homocystein Levels on Duration and Severity of Erectile Dysfunction
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Research Article
VOLUME: 75 ISSUE: 1
P: 124-129
March 2022

The Effects of High Homocystein Levels on Duration and Severity of Erectile Dysfunction

J Ankara Univ Fac Med 2022;75(1):124-129
DOI: 10.4274/atfm.galenos.2022.09226
Murat Topcuoğlu 1
Murat Çakan 2
1. Alanya Alaaddiṅ Keykubat Üniv̇ ersiṫ esi ̇Tıp Fakültesi, Üroloji Anabilim Dalı, Antalya, Türkiye
2. Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Üroloji Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
No information available.
No information available
Received Date: 04.10.2021
Accepted Date: 02.03.2022
Publish Date: 24.03.2022
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ABSTRACT

Objectives:

We aimed to demonstrate the relationship between high serum homocysteine levels and severity, duration of erectile dysfunction (ED), also the diseases including vascular pathologies like diabetes mellitus (DM), atherosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), hypertension, and metabolic syndrome with clinical and laboratory values.

Materials and Methods:

Eighty-two patients admitted with ED were divided into two groups based on serum homocysteine values, as patients with a homocysteine value of less than 15 μmol/L (Group 1) and patients with a homocysteine value of more than 15 μmol/L (Group 2). Both groups were compared in terms of age, duration and severity of ED, history of concomitant systemic diseases like DM, ASHD, hypertension and laboratory values [fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), triglyceride, total testosterone] values. The severity of ED in patients was evaluated with the short form of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire.

Results:

Severity and duration of ED were statistically more significant in the patients in Group 2 than in the patients in Group 1. While the ratio of patients with DM and ASHD was significantly higher in Group 2 than in Group 1, the groups were similar for ratio of hypertension. In terms of laboratory values, both groups were similar for serum total cholesterol and HDL while the difference observed for LDL, VLDL and triglyceride was statistically significant in favor of Group 1.

Conclusion:

The role of biochemical markers in the diagnosis and follow-up of endothelial dysfunction, which is one of the main causes of ED, has been investigated in many studies. For this purpose, one of the parameters that has been investigated for its relationship with ED is serum homocysteine level. Homocysteine remains as a putative risk factor for ED. If results are supported by studies with larger number of cases, it may contribute as a marker in the prevention of ED development and progression and also in the follow-up of medical treatment response.

Keywords: Homocysteine, Erectile Dysfunction, Vascular Pathology

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