{Reference Type}: Clinical Study {Title}: A possible mechanism of erectile dysfunction in coronavirus disease-19: Cavernosal smooth muscle damage: A pilot study. {Author}: Unal S;Uzundal H;Soydas T;Kutluhan MA;Ozayar A;Okulu E;Kayigil O; {Journal}: Rev Int Androl {Volume}: 21 {Issue}: 4 {Year}: 2023 Oct-Dec 13 {Factor}: 0.66 {DOI}: 10.1016/j.androl.2023.100366 {Abstract}: Studies have reported that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may cause erectile dysfunction (ED), however, its role in the pathophysiology of ED has not yet been fully elucidated. We aimed to elucidate COVID-19's effects on cavernosal smooth muscle, which has a pretty important role in erection physiology, by corpus cavernosum electromyography (cc-EMG).
Twenty-nine male patients aged 20-50 years who applied to the urology outpatient clinic due to ED were included in the study. Nine patients that had COVID-19 and were treated as outpatients were classified as group 1, 10 patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 were classified as group 2, and 10 patients who did not have COVID-19 were classified as the control group (group 3). Patients underwent diagnostic evaluation including International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 form, penile color Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), cc-EMG, and fasting serum levels of reproductive hormones (07-11am).
According to penile CDUS and hormonal values results, there was no significant difference between the groups. According to cc-EMG results, amplitudes and relaxation capacities of the cavernosal smooth muscle of patients in group 3 were significantly higher than those in the other groups.
COVID-19 can cause ED not only by psychogenic and hormonal factors but also with cavernosal smooth muscle damage.
NCT04980508.