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Hoppe H, Hirschle D, Schumacher MC, Schönhofen H, Glenck M, Kalka C, Willenberg T, Sixt S, Müller D, Gutzeit A, Christe A, Mohan V, Diehm N. Erectile dysfunction: role of computed tomography cavernosography in the diagnosis and treatment planning of venous leak. CVIR Endovasc 2023; 6:56. [PMID: 37975993 PMCID: PMC10656380 DOI: 10.1186/s42155-023-00403-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Venous leak appears to be the most common cause of vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), which can be treated with venous embolization. Traditionally, conventional cavernosography was used for the diagnosis and treatment planning of venous leak. Recently, computed tomography (CT) cavernosography was introduced as a novel cross-sectional imaging method proposed to be advantageous over conventional cavernosography. We created a novel management algorithm for diagnosing venous leak including CT cavernosography as an imaging modality. In order to provide a broader basis for our management algorithm, a systematic literature review was conducted. MAIN BODY In this article we systematically review relevant literature on using CT cavernosography for the diagnosis and treatment planning in ED patients with venous leak following the PRISMA selection process. Nine full-text articles were included in the review and assigned a level of evidence grade (all grade II). Two studies (2/9) compared the results of conventional cavernosography with those of CT cavernosography which was superior for site-specific venous leak identification (19.4% vs. 100%, respectively). CT cavernosography is a more detailed imaging method that is faster to perform, exposes the patient to less radiation, and requires less contrast material. In one study (1/9), CT cavernosography was used for diagnostic purposes only. Eight studies (8/9) cover both, diagnostic imaging and treatment planning including embolization (1/9) and sclerotherapy (2/9) of venous leak in patients with venogenic ED. Three studies (3/9) describe anatomical venous leak classifications that were established based on CT cavernosography findings for accurate mapping of superficial and/or deep venous leak and identification of mixed or more complex forms of venous leak present in up to 84% of patients. In addition to treatment planning, one study (1/9) used CT cavernosography also for follow-up imaging post treatment. CONCLUSION CT cavernosography is superior to conventional cavernosography for diagnosis and treatment planning in patients with ED caused by venous leak (grade II levels of evidence). Consequently, CT cavernosography should be included in management algorithms for ED patients with suspected venous leak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanno Hoppe
- University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland.
- Microtherapy Center Bern, Lindenhofspital, Bern, Switzerland.
- Campus Stiftung Lindenhof Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | | | | | | | - Michael Glenck
- Microtherapy Center Bern, Lindenhofspital, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Torsten Willenberg
- University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Vascular Center Bern, Lindenhofspital, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Andreas Gutzeit
- Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Christe
- Diagnostic, Interventional and Pediatric Radiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Vignes Mohan
- Vascular Institute Central Switzerland, Aarau, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Diehm
- University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Vascular Institute Central Switzerland, Aarau, Switzerland
- University of Applied Sciences Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
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Mohan V, Schönhofen J, Hoppe H, Schumacher M, Keo HH, Bechir M, Kalka C, Burkhard Rn M, Diehm N. Long-Term Outcomes of Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation for Patients With Atherosclerotic Erectile Dysfunction not Responding to PDE-5-Inhibitors. J Endovasc Ther 2023:15266028231183775. [PMID: 37365869 DOI: 10.1177/15266028231183775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Endovascular therapy of erection-related arteries was shown to be a promising treatment option for patients with severe erectile dysfunction. Purpose of this study was to assess the longer-term safety and clinical success rate of endovascular revascularization of erection-related arteries with the Angiolite BTK stent in patients with arteriogenic erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 147 consecutive men (63.5±9.3 years) with erectile dysfunction due to 345 atherosclerotic lesions underwent endovascular revascularization. Patients received an International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-15 questionnaire at 30.3±7.2 months (follow-up [FU] period no less than 18 months) after stenting. An improvement by 4 points in the erectile function domain consisting of 6 questions (IIEF-6) was defined as minimal clinically important difference (MCID). RESULTS Technical success was achieved in 99% of lesions. One major adverse event occurred after endovascular revascularization. Sixty-eight (46%) patients completed their latest FU at least 18 months following the last intervention. Minimal clinically important difference was achieved in 54% (37/68) of patients. CONCLUSIONS In patients with arteriogenic erectile dysfunction not responding to phosphodiesterase-5-inhibitors (PDE-5-Is), endovascular therapy with a novel thin-strut sirolimus-eluting stent is a safe and effective treatment option during short- and longer-term FU. CLINICAL IMPACT Patients with severe erectile dysfunction profit greatly from endovascular therapy of erection-related arteries. Stable clinical outcomes are seen beyond a 1-year timeframe. It is proven that, the drug-eluting stent therapy for atherosclerotic ED in patients who have not responded to PDE-5-I therapy is safe and effective during longer-term follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vignes Mohan
- Vascular Institute Central Switzerland, Aarau, Switzerland
| | - Jan Schönhofen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Spitalzentrum Biel AG, Biel, Switzerland
| | - Hanno Hoppe
- SwissIntervention Microtherapy Center, Bern, Switzerland
- University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Hak-Hong Keo
- Vascular Institute Central Switzerland, Aarau, Switzerland
| | - Markus Bechir
- Center for Internal Medicine, Hirslanden Clinic Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Kalka
- Vascular Institute Central Switzerland, Aarau, Switzerland
- University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicolas Diehm
- Vascular Institute Central Switzerland, Aarau, Switzerland
- University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- University of Applied Sciences Furtwangen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
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La Favor JD, Pierre CJ, Bivalacqua TJ, Burnett AL. Rapamycin Suppresses Penile NADPH Oxidase Activity to Preserve Erectile Function in Mice Fed a Western Diet. Biomedicines 2021; 10:biomedicines10010068. [PMID: 35052748 PMCID: PMC8773370 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a nutrient-sensitive cellular signaling kinase that has been implicated in the excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NADPH oxidase-derived ROS have been implicated in erectile dysfunction pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to determine if mTOR is an activator of NADPH oxidase in the penis and to determine the functional relevance of this pathway in a translationally relevant model of diet-induced erectile dysfunction. Male mice were fed a control diet or a high-fat, high-sucrose Western style diet (WD) for 12 weeks and treated with vehicle or rapamycin for the final 4 weeks of the dietary intervention. Following the intervention, erectile function was assessed by cavernous nerve-stimulated intracavernous pressure measurement, in vivo ROS production was measured in the penis using a microdialysis approach, and relative protein contents from the corpus cavernosum were determined by Western blot. Erectile function was impaired in vehicle treated WD-mice and was preserved in rapamycin treated WD-mice. Penile NADPH oxidase-mediated ROS were elevated in WD-mice and suppressed by rapamycin treatment. Western blot analysis suggests mTOR activation with WD by increased active site phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K, and increased expression of NADPH oxidase subunits, all of which were suppressed by rapamycin. These data suggest that mTOR is an upstream mediator of NADPH oxidase in the corpus cavernosum in response to a chronic Western diet, which has an adverse effect on erectile function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D. La Favor
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-850-644-3149
| | - Clifford J. Pierre
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
| | - Trinity J. Bivalacqua
- Department of Urology, The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (T.J.B.); (A.L.B.)
| | - Arthur L. Burnett
- Department of Urology, The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; (T.J.B.); (A.L.B.)
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