The Erectile Phenomena During REM (rapid eye movement) Sleep on Hemodialysis Patients of Impotence

It is known that nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) occurs physiologically during REM sleep. In order to differentiate an organic impotence from psychogenic one, the author has practiced REM-penogram in which NPT is measured simultaneously with cerebral wave in all night sleep. REM-penogram was conducted on 12 hemodialysis patients of impotence, 10 patients of psychogenic impotence and 10 patients of organic impotence. As the results it was found that in the case of dialysis patients total REM-sleep time is reduced while REM latency is prolonged. With dialysis patients complaining total impotence, NPT was not recognized and those complaining partial impotence schowed less frequency of NPT. In the case of dialysis patients reduction of REM-sleep is often recognized. For the diagnosis of impotence not only NPT but also simultaneous recording of cerebral wave in all night sleep is necessary.