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The effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents on sexual dysfunction in male patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a pilot study

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Abstract

Sexual dysfunction is a common problem among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This study was an open-label study without placebo to assess sexual dysfunction in male patients with AS, and to determine whether sexual function might improve with the use of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blockers. Twenty-two males with AS (age, 29–48 years) were treated for 3 months with TNF-α blockers. Before and after treatment, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) was measured, and all patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, a self-administered measure of sexual dysfunction with five domains: erectile function (EF), intercourse satisfaction (IS), orgasmic function (OF), sexual desire (SD) and overall satisfaction (OS). There were significant improvements in BASDAI after treatment with TNF-α blockers (P<0.001). Anti-TNF-α treated patients showed significant improvements in four out of the five IIEF domains (EF, P<0.001; IS, P<0.001; SD, P=0.006; OS, P=0.033). Among patients with erectile dysfunction, there were significant improvements in three IIEF domains (EF, P=0.006; IS, P=0.007; SD, P=0.018). Only IS domain of IIEF showed a significant correlation with BASDAI (partial correlation coefficient = −0.484, P=0.026). This study showed that anti-TNF-α therapy may improve sexual dysfunction in male AS patients, in addition to reducing disease activity.

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Author notes

  1. J S Oh and H-M Heo: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, Ulsan, Korea

    J S Oh

  2. Division of Rheumatology, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

    H-M Heo

  3. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea

    Y-G Kim, S G Lee, C-K Lee & B Yoo

Authors
  1. J S Oh
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  2. H-M Heo
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  3. Y-G Kim
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  4. S G Lee
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  5. C-K Lee
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  6. B Yoo
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Correspondence to B Yoo.

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Oh, J., Heo, HM., Kim, YG. et al. The effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents on sexual dysfunction in male patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a pilot study. Int J Impot Res 21, 372–375 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2009.44

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