Endocrine Abstracts

Erectile dysfunction (ED) – frequent disease that accompanies diabetes or is its complication. According to various reports the prevalence of ED in males with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) varies from 25 to 90%. In recent years, the ED is considered as predict factor in the development of T2DM in men and as a marker of vascular complications progression.

Aim: To examine the state of androgens in men suffering from T2DM and erectile dysfunction.

Material and methods: We observed 205 male patients (48±4.6 years) with T2DM (HbA1c did not exceed 6.5%) with complaints on ED. Erectile function was determined with international index of erectile function scale. Levels of total testosterone (tT), estradiol (E₂), and LH in blood serum were measured with immunoferment method. The controls – 24 healthy men without diabetes and ED (25–58 years).

Results: The average index of erectile function scored 17.23±2.08 points and was lower than in the controls – 26.75±0.79 (P<0.01). Satisfaction with sexual intercourse was reduced compared with the controls (9.34±0.93 vs 16.18±0.68 points (P<0.01). Orgasmic feelings and sexual desire were lower in T2DM patients than is controls (6.48±0.72 vs 9.23±0.26 points (P<0.05) and 9.44±0.95 vs 13.93±0.56 points (P<0.01) respectively). The index of erectile function in T2DM patients studied showed moderate ED in 62.4% cases (15.1±0.68) and severe ED in 22.4% of patients (12.2±0.44). Levels of tT in group 41–50 years was 3.1±0.47 ng/ml, 51–60 years was 2.7±0.71 ng/ml, and >60 years was 2.9±0.55 ng/ml vs 5.63±0.9 ng/ml and were lover than in control (5.63±0.9 ng/ml). Serum levels of E₂ in patients did not differ from the controls (0.17±0.04 pmol/l vs 0.14±0.02 pmol/l), as well as LH concentrations (4.28±0.36 IU/l vs 4.2±0.5 IU/l).

Conclusions: Low testosterone is an important pathogenic factor in the development of ED in men with T2DM.