UROTENSIN II AS A POSSIBLE SERUM MARKER OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

U-II was identified as the natural ligand of a G-protein coupled receptor, namely UT receptor. U-II and UT receptor are expressed in a variety of peripheral organs and especially in cardiovascular tissue and their expression is up-regulated in human cardiovascular disease, including congestive heart failure, hypertension, type II diabetes and diabetic nephropathy. Recent evidence indicates that the U-II/UT pathway has a vasodilator effect on human corpus cavernosum tissue, and this effect is mediated by eNOS. The Purpose of this study is to measure the plasma level of U-II in men with ED compared to healthy controls and to correlate the values obtained with the IIEF score and other clinical variables and comobidities. METHODS A sample of 70 healthy volunteers and 80 ED patients have been enrolled. The ED patients underwent a standard visit at the Unit of Andrology of the University Federico II of Naples. Each patient was interviewed, exploring the presence of risk factors and comorbidities related to ED or to other diseases. Furthermore all patients were asked to complete the IIEF. The physical examination included BMI. Blood samples were obtained in the same day: a routine serum profile was performed, comprehensive of plasma level of U-II. RESULTS The results obtained from clinical study are reported as mean ± SD. The first result showing the difference between the UII plasma levels measured both in controls and ED patients,indicated that the mean values were 1662,06 pg/ml and 3513,21pg/ml respectively (ratio 2,11). A correlation test was performed to evaluate association between UII plasma values in ED patients and IIEF score. It was found a Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (PPMCC) of ???0,82 suggesting a strong, statistically significant, negative correlation between the IIEF score and The UII plasma levels. Correlation tests were made also between UII plasma levels and BMI, blood total cholesterol and glycemia. Results obtained showed a moderate, statistically significant, positive correlation with BMI (PPMCC=0,48); a small statistically significant positive correlation with Blood total cholesterol (PPMCC= 0,34)and no statistically significant correlation was founded with glycemia (PPMCC= 0,09). CONCLUSIONS UII plasma levels are doubled in ED patients compared to healthy controls and inversely correlated to IIEF score. Further studies are warranted to evaluate a possible role of urotensin II as serum marker of ED.