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Infection induced inflammation is associated with erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes
Author(s) -
Blans M. C. A.,
Visseren F. L. J.,
Banga J. D.,
Hoekstra J. B. L.,
Van Der Graaf Y.,
Diepersloot R. J. A.,
Bouter K. P.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of clinical investigation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.164
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1365-2362
pISSN - 0014-2972
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2006.01653.x
Subject(s) - medicine , erectile dysfunction , endothelial dysfunction , c reactive protein , diabetes mellitus , inflammation , odds ratio , chlamydia , fibrinogen , cytomegalovirus , gastroenterology , immunology , endocrinology , virus , viral disease , herpesviridae
Background In diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction is a major underlying cause. Infection‐induced inflammation may be associated with endothelial dysfunction. The goal of this study was to determine whether erectile dysfunction in patients with diabetes is associated with infections of Chlamydia pneumoniae or cytomegalovirus and/or with low‐grade inflammation. Materials and methods Diabetic patients, 57 with and 33 without erectile dysfunction, were enrolled in a case–control study. Both groups of patients consists of type 1 and type 2 diabetics. Serum antibodies against cytomegalovirus and C. pneumoniae and markers of inflammation, including high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein and fibrinogen, were measured. Results Adjusted odds ratios for erectile dysfunction in cytomegalovirus IgG, C. pneumoniae IgG and C. pneumoniae IgA seropositive men were 2·4 (95%CI; 1·0–6·0), 3·0 (95%CI; 1·2–8·1) and 1·8 (95%CI; 0·7–4·6), respectively. Odds ratios for the highest tertiles of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein and fibrinogen concentrations compared to the lowest tertile were 4·3 (95%CI; 1·4–13·1) and 6·6 (95%CI; 2·1–21·2), respectively. Conclusion Elevated high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein or fibrinogen serum levels and infection with cytomegalovirus or C. pneumoniae were associated with erectile dysfunction in diabetes. The relation between cytomegalovirus and erectile dysfunction is markedly present in patients with elevated high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein and fibrinogen levels, suggesting a modifying effect by the inflammation.