Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in subjects with erectile dysfunction.

Int J Impot Res. 2005 May-Jun;17(3):288-90.
Comment in:

• J Urol. 2005 Aug;174(2):656.

Foresta C, Caretta N, Lana A, Cabrelle A, Pal? G, Ferlin A.

Department of Histology, Microbiology, and Medical Biotechnologies, Centre for Male Gamete Cryopreservation, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. carlo.foresta@unipd.it

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often the first clinical sign of endothelial dysfunction and may precede overt cardiovascular diseases. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells migrate into the peripheral circulation to promote endothelial repair. The number of circulating progenitor cells is reduced in patients with cardiovascular risk factor. The objective of our study was to determine the number of these cells in patients with ED both with and without cardiovascular risk factors. These subjects have lower number of circulating progenitor cells, confirming the existence of an endothelial dysfunction and supplying the evidence that ED may be the first symptom of an endothelial damage.15729373 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

• Relationship between vascular damage degrees and endothelial progenitor cells in patients with erectile dysfunction: effect of vardenafil administration and PDE5 expression in the bone marrow.
• Circulating endothelial progenitor cells and endothelial function after chronic Tadalafil treatment in subjects with erectile dysfunction.
• Circulating endothelial progenitor cells correlate with erectile function in patients with coronary heart disease.
• Circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with Eisenmenger syndrome and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.
• Erectile dysfunction in aging men: testosterone role in therapeutic protocols.