Professional paper
https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2015.290
The Importance of Valsartan in the Treatment of Hypertonic Patients with Erectile Dysfunction
Zdravko Babić
orcid.org/0000-0002-7060-8375
; University Hospital Centre „Sestre milosrdnice”, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
According to multiple authors, erectile dysfunction manifests in over half of the male population with arterial hypertension, especially in middle-aged or older men. Arterial hypertension, but also some of the medication used to treat it, can lead to erectile dysfunction through a number of pathophysiological mechanisms (atherosclerosis in the blood vessels supplying the tissue responsible for the erection, sympathicotonia and dysregulation of the vascular tonus of the erectile organ, poor remodeling and lowered elasticity of blood vessels in the erectile organ, changes in the structure of the cavernous
body, and increased concentration of free radicals and lipid peroxidation in the penile tissue). On the other hand, several studies over the recent 15 years have found a positive influence of valsartan on the
improvement of erectile dysfunction, as well as orgasmic function, sex drive, and intercourse satisfaction and frequency in patients with arterial hypertension. The basic mechanism that leads to these effects is inhibiting the local angiotensin converting enzyme, but other indirect mechanisms are at play as well.
We can thus conclude that valsartan, in addition to good antihypertensive effectiveness, tolerability, and organoprotective effects, has a pronounced pro-erectile effect and is a good treatment choice in patients with arterial hypertension and erectile dysfunction, especially in patients with obesity and diabetes; confirming this hypothesis, however, will require further studies in a patient model.
Keywords
valsartan; arterial hypertension; erectile dysfunction
Hrčak ID:
153261
URI
Publication date:
10.1.2016.
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