Erectile dysfunction in cardiovascular patients: A prospective study of the eNOS gene T-786C, G894T, and INTRON variable number of the tandem repeat functional interaction

Background: Cardiovascular disease induces erectile dysfunction modulated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase enzyme and an impaired ejection fraction that restricts penis vascular congestion. However, the mechanisms regulating endothelial dysfunction are not understood. Objectives: Exploring the functional impact of endothelial nitric oxide synthase genetic polymorphisms on erectile dysfunction and drug therapy optimization in high-risk cardiovascular disease patients. Materials and methods: Patients with erectile dysfunction symptoms and candidates for andrology therapy were included (n = 112). Clinical data and endothelial nitric oxide synthase rs1799983 (G894T) and rs2070744 (T-786C), genotyped by fluorescence polarization assays, were registered. The 27-bp variable number of the tandem repeat polymorphism in intron 4 (intron4b/a) was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Association analyses were run with the R-3.2.0 software. Results: A ...