Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA.
Traditional risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and diet are used to screen for cardiovascular disease. However, these risk factors miss a significant population who are at risk for future cardiac events. Erectile dysfunction (ED) has many associated conditions in common with cardiovascular disease and has been shown to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular. Measurements made on penile Doppler ultrasound (PDU), such as cavernosal artery peak systolic velocity (PSV), cavernosal artery intima-medial thickness, and the finding of cavernosal artery calcification, are indicators of generalized vascular disease. Thus, elements of PDU can identify men at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. This review outlines the proper technique for PDU and the literature supporting the use of PDU to predict cardiovascular disease in men with erectile dysfunction.
Written by:
Gupta N, Herati A, Gilbert BR. Are you the author?
The Arthur Smith Institute for Urology, Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine, 450 Lakeville Road, Suite M41, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, USA.
Reference: Curr Urol Rep. 2015 Mar;16(3):482.
doi: 10.1007/s11934-015-0482-1
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25677231