ANAHEIM, Ca. (May 21, 2007) -- New research into urologic conditions such as erectile dysfunction indicate that these disorders could be associated with or precursors to more serious conditions, and suggest a need for practitioners to view these diseases in the greater context of total health as opposed to isolated disorders. A special session highlighting the association on urologic diseases with non-urologic conditions such as heart disease and metabolic syndrome was presented during the 102nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association. A special session for the media was held on Monday, May 21, 2007 at 11 a.m. and moderated by Marshall L. Stoller, M.D.

ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE METABOLIC SYNDROME CAN BE REVERSED BY A CHRONIC TREATMENT WITH SILDENAFIL (Abstract 686)

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a number of conditions, including elevated blood pressure, excess body fat around the waist and insulin resistance. Many patients with these conditions also exhibit endothelial dysfunction with increases in oxidative stress and decreases in nitric oxide production which has been related to erectile dysfunction (ED). Researchers from France explored whether treatment with sildenafil a common pharmacologic treatment for ED could improve endothelial dysfunction in a rat model.

Researchers administered sildenafil to fructose-fed rats to achieve plasma concentrations known to give efficacy in men and observed endothelial function and oxidative stress in the animals during treatment and one-week after treatment had been stopped. It was observed that chronic sildenafil treatment improved endothelial function and oxidative stress, suggesting that this treatment could be a benefit for cardiovascular indications as well as erectile dysfunction.

This study will be presented in Moderated Poster Session 20 on Monday, May 21, 2007 starting at 8:00 a.m.

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Contact: Wendy Isett
wisett@auanet.org
410-689-3789
American Urological Association
21-May-2007