Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2024; 121(3): e20240092
Aortic Stiffness and the Response to Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors in Patients Receiving Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction: Predictive Role or an Epiphenomenon?
This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Role of Aortic Stiffness in Predicting Response to Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction".
Erectile dysfunction (ED), a health problem with multifactorial pathogenesis and high prevalence, is directly correlated with patient age and is related to endothelial dysfunction and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Vascular endothelial dysfunction is currently considered to be the link between vasculogenic ED and cardiometabolic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis., The association between ED and CVD has long been recognized, and studies suggest that ED may be an independent marker of CVD risk, including the presence of subclinical coronary artery disease in otherwise asymptomatic men.
In this context, the general use of type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors (iPDE-5) has led more patients with ED to seek medical help, providing an excellent opportunity for the identification and correction of possible cardiovascular risk factors. In addition to functional and structural vascular alterations in the systemic circulation that occur during ED, local microcirculatory disturbances and fibrosis are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of ED., Moreover, penile endothelium-dependent microvascular function has been shown to improve after continuous use of sildenafil in hypertensive patients with ED.
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