PLASMA TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-β1 LEVEL IN VARIOUS CAUSES OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

초록

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: ㅉe investigated the diagnostic values of plasma TGF-β1 in ED patients with various causes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-two patients with ED and twenty-six potent men were subjected to study. Based on multidisciplinary work-ups.Cause s for ED were classified into psychogenic (n=15), neurogenic (n=16), and vasculogenic (n=31). Plasma TGF-β1 level was measured with ELISA using QuantakineTM human TGF-β1 immunoassay kit. RESULTS: Plasma TGF-β1 level was significantly increased in ED group compared to control group. Of ED group, it was significantly increased in vasculogenic group compared to psychogenic, or neurogenic group .Of the vascular risk factors, both smoking and hyperlipidemia group showed significantly increased plasma TGF-β1 level compared to those without smoking, and those without hyperlipidemia (4.8±2.8 ng/ml) (p<0.01). Patients with atherosclerosis (9.0±5.3 ng/ml) showed increased plasma TGF-β1 level compared to those without (6.2±4.7 ng/ml), but not statistically significant (p=0.114). Plasma TGF-β1 levels with regard to ED severity on the basis of IIEF showed no difference between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of plasma TGF-β1 level may be a non-invasive and useful tool in the diagnosis of ED, especially vasculogenic cause. Among the vascular risk factors, smoking and hyperlipidemia contributes to elevated plasma TGF-β1 level.