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Erectile dysfunction (ED) after ischemic stroke: association between prevalence and site of lesion

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Abstract

Purpose

Stroke may cause or worsen erectile dysfunction (ED). Post-stroke ED prevalence and association with stroke location are not well established. Therefore, we assessed post-stroke ED prevalence in relation to ischemic lesion locations and stroke severity.

Methods

In 57 men (62.6 ± 10.5 years) who had ischemic stroke within 24 months prior to evaluation, we used the five-item International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF5) to evaluate ED prevalence after stroke and retrospectively 3 months prior to stroke. IIEF5 scores range from 5 to 25; scores below 22 indicate ED. We estimated stroke severity upon hospital admission, using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and determined stroke location from cranial computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. We compared pre- and post-stroke results with those of 22 control persons (61.7 ± 11.2 years), calculated correlations between IIEF5 scores and NIHSS scores, and compared ED prevalence with stroke locations (significance: p < 0.05).

Results

ED was reported by 45/57 patients after stroke, 26/57 patients before stroke, and 6/22 control persons. Patients’ IIEF5 values were significantly lower [median 16 interquartile range (IQR) 3.5–20.5] after than before stroke (median 23, IQR 19.0–24.0) and lower than in controls (median 24, IQR 19.8–25.0). Pre- and post-stroke IIEF5 scores did not correlate with the patients’ NIHSS scores at stroke onset (p > 0.05). ED was associated with middle cerebral artery infarction in 27/34, posterior cerebral artery infarction in 4/5, anterior cerebral artery infarction in 1/1, basal ganglia infarction in 3/3, brain stem infarction in 8/10, cerebellar infarction in 2/5, and lesions in more than one region in 1/1 patients.

Conclusions

Disruption of the central network assuring erection might contribute to increased ED severity and prevalence after stroke. Anti-erectile effects of functional and psychological impairment or medication added after stroke may also contribute to ED but must be evaluated in larger patients groups.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partially funded by the Rolf- and Hubertine Schiffbauer Foundation, Hof, Germany.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Julia Koehn, Carl Crodel, Martina Deutsch, Martin Köhrmann, Stefan Schwab & Max J. Hilz

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Klinikum am Europakanal, Erlangen, Germany

    Katharina M. Hösl

  3. Erlangen Stroke Project (ESPro), Interdisciplinary Centre for Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and Public Health, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Peter L. Kolominsky-Rabas

Authors
  1. Julia Koehn
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  2. Carl Crodel
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  3. Martina Deutsch
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  8. Max J. Hilz
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Correspondence to Max J. Hilz.

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Conflict of interest

M.J.H. received project funding from the Rolf- and Hubertine-Schiffbauer-Foundation. P.L. K-R received funding from German Federal Ministry of Research and Education (BMBF), European Commission, Bavarian State Research Foundation, and University of Erlangen-Nuremberg.

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Koehn, J., Crodel, C., Deutsch, M. et al. Erectile dysfunction (ED) after ischemic stroke: association between prevalence and site of lesion. Clin Auton Res 25, 357–365 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-015-0313-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-015-0313-y

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