Common grounds for erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEWEvidence is accumulating to consider erectile dysfunction as a vascular problem. This review focuses on background, pathophysiological mechanisms and clinical evidence of the link between erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease. RECENT FINDINGSThe link between erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease is suggested by the following. (1) Common risk factors for atherosclerosis are frequently found in erectile dysfunction. (2) Erectile dysfunction is frequently found in vascular syndromes such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease and diabetes. (3) A similar pathogenic involvement of the NO pathway leading to impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and late structural vascular abnormalities is shared by erectile dysfunction and vascular disorders. Given this background, the ‘artery-size hypothesis’ is a recently proposed pathophysiological mechanism to explain the link between sexual dysfunction and myocardial ischemia. SUMMARYErectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease appear to be linked tightly each other.