Blood platelet activity in men with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the platelet activity in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total blood count, including hemoglobin (Hgb), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), platelet (PLT) and mean platelet volume (MPV) parameters were measured in the patient (n = 70) and control groups (n = 50).

RESULTS: The average age was 48.1 ± 11.7 and 47.6 ± 12.3 in the patient and control groups (p = 0.8217), respectively. MPV was higher in the patient group and there was a statistically significant difference between two groups (11.27 ± 0.56 and 9.8 ± 0.91, p < 0.0001). PLT counts were lower in the patient group but there was not a statistically significant difference (196.23 ± 37.01 and 209.07 ± 36.71, p = 0.0626). In terms of haemoglobin, WBC and RBC values, there was no difference in the patient and control groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Finding high MPV, which reflects the platelet activity, in the patient group shows that platelets also have a role in the VED etiopathogenesis. In the case of the confirmation of this result with additional studies, the efficiency of anti-platelet therapy in the vasculogenic ED should also be researched.