Erectile and sex hormone dysfunction and cardiovascular consequences in CKD

Abstract

In recent years Erectile Dysfunction (ED) has emerged as an independent predictor of cardiovascular (CV) events. The impact was so great that some attempts have been made to implement ED in well-known CV risk scoring systems. ED has been described as just one manifestation of the generalized atherosclerosis syndrome, similar to angina pectoris. Interestingly ED appears a few years before other clinical manifestations of cardiac disease, particularly in younger patients. Endothelial dysfunction and inflammation were suggested as common denominators of both disorders. Experimental data and clinical studies provided substantial evidence on testosterone deficiency, being associated with worse cardiac outcomes both in the general population and specific patient groups. Hypogonadism was both a cause and also a consequence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.