Duplex Doppler scanning with prostaglandin E1 in the diagnosis of cavernovenous leakage.

The aim of this study was to find out the normal response of the duplex Doppler (DD) parameter resistance index (RI) during a high dose prostaglandin E1 (40 micrograms) induced erection and to evaluate the clinical usefulness of DD scanning in the diagnosis of cavernovenous leakage (CVL). The results of DD scanning and cavernometry were compared in 10 potent control subjects and 82 impotent patients RI was > or = 1 in all control subjects later than 10 min after the intracavernous injection and RI at 20 min after the injection (RI20) was chosen as a clinical parameter. An inverse correlation (r = -0.69, p < 0.001) between RI20 and the maintenance flow (MF) at 150 mm Hg (MF150) was demonstrated. Sensitivity and specificity of RI20 (values < 1 indicating CVL) as a test of CVL (MF150 > 18 ml/min) were 89% and 86%, respectively. In conclusion, the measurement of RI20 in DD scanning after an adequate pharmaco-stimulation is a reliable, noninvasive method in the diagnosis of CVL.

Cardiovascular reflexes in the neurological evaluation of impotence.

Testing of the autonomic cardiovascular reflexes (single breath beat-to-beat variation and orthostatic blood pressure change) was performed in 542 patients with erectile dysfunction who were grouped according to aetiological factors and their response to visual sexual stimulation and the papaverine test. Age-related normal values for autonomic tests were determined in the group of 124 patients with psychogenic impotence. Abnormal cardiovascular reflexes were associated with ageing and organic impotence, indicating autonomic dysfunction as a major contribution to impotence. Single breath beat-to-beat variation, as a simple non-invasive test, is useful in the clinical evaluation of impotence, especially in patients with diabetes and a history of alcohol abuse.

Duplex Doppler scanning with high-dose prostaglandin E1 stimulation in the diagnosis of arteriogenic impotence.

The aim of this study was to find out the normal range of penile duplex Doppler parameters with pharmacostimulation of 40 micrograms prostaglandin E1 and to assess the repeatability and clinical value of the method. Maximal systolic velocity increase (SVImax) is presented as a new flow parameter. 10 potent and 82 impotent patients were investigated. Peak systolic velocity values were significantly higher when recorded at proximal than at distal penis. Repeatability of SVImax was fairly good (coefficient of variation = 0.18). SVImax ranged from 32 to 100 cm/s in 10 control subjects. The distribution of SVImax values in patients grouped according to the number of arteriosclerotic risk factors indicates that this parameter may be useful in the diagnosis of arteriogenic impotence.

Pharmacocavernometry with prostaglandin E1.

The aim of this study was to define the normal response of cavernometry parameters with high-dose pharmacostimulation, to investigate repeatability of the method and to find out the incidence of cavernovenous leakage in impotence. 82 consecutive impotent patients and 10 potent control subjects underwent pharmacocavernometry with 40 micrograms of prostaglandin E1. In control subjects, the maintenance flow at 150 mm Hg (MF150) was 3-22 ml/min with an average of 6 ml/min (SD = 6 ml/min). Cavernometry was repeated in 17 patients, but the repeatability of quantitative parameters was disappointing. Cavernovenous leakage was estimated to be present in 55-67% of all impotent patients. Cavernometry with a high-dose prostaglandin E1 pharmacostimulation is a useful method in selected patients, but the consistency of the method should be improved.