Ab1250 sle and Sexual Function: Are We Forgetting Men?

Abstract

Background:Whereas SLE is uncommon in men, the disease is usually more severe and requires more aggressive immunosuppression in male patients. There are multiple studies regarding sexual aspects in women with SLE, but information about sexual function in male patients is quite scant.Objectives:To determine the relationship between SLE and sexual function alterations in men, through the application of validated questionnaires.Methods:We performed a longitudinal study in a third-level referral center in Mexico City. We included men aged ≥16 years who fulfilled ACR criteria for SLE and who were sexually active. All subjects answered the International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15), the SF-36 and the HAQ in two visits. Other clinical, serological and demographic variables were measured. Oxidized LDL was quantified by ELISA.Results:We included 108 male SLE patients. Mean age was 37.2±1.1 years and most patients (87%) were taking immunosuppressive therapy. Comorbidities were present in 58% of subjects, with dyslipidemia and hypertension being the most prevalent (34% and 28%, respectively).The prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) was 53%. In the basal visit, the only significant differences between the patients with SD and those without SD were a lower education degree (p=0.007) and persistent lymphopenia (p=0.01). There was a positive correlation between global IIEF-15 score and SF-36 score (r=0.46, p=0.001). The physical function domain had the highest correlation (r=0.50, p=0.001). Likewise, there was a weak negative correlation between IIEF-15 and HAQ score (r=-0.25, p=0.012). Also, the IIEF-15 had a weak correlation with the absolute lymphocyte count (r=0.27, p=0.005) and oxidized LDL (r=0.31, p=0.04).In the follow-up visit the only significant differences between the patients with SD when compared with subjects without SD was a low absolute lymphocyte count (1031±89 vs 1458±119, p=0.005); the correlations mentioned in the baseline visit remained significant. Regarding erectile function, 44% of the subjects had some degree of dysfunction. The rest of the variables are shown in Table 1.Abstract AB1250 Table 1Demographic, clinical and laboratory featuresVariableMean ± SEMDemographicAge (years)37.2 ± 1.1Body mass index (kg/m2)26.5 ± 0.4Less than 10 years of schooling (n,%)21/108 (19.4)Time since SLE diagnosis (years)9.1 ± 0.6Clinical FeaturesTotal score IIEF-1558.7 ± 1.3Erectile function23.9 ± 0.6Intercourse satisfaction10.9 ± 0.3Orgasmic function8.1 ± 0.2Sexual desire7.5 ± 0.1Overall satisfaction8.1 ± 0.1Total score SF-3669.2 ± 1.3Secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (n,%)16/108 (14.8)SLEDAI score (points)4.2 ± 0.4Others comorbidities (n,%)63/108 (58.3)Laboratory featuresHemoglobin (mg/dl)15.3 ± 0.2Leukocytes (mm3) (x103)5.9 ± 0.2Absolute lymphocyte count (mm3)1362.6 ± 76.0Serum creatinine (mg/dl)1.4 ± 0.1C3 levels104.1 ± 3.2C4 levels19.7 ± 1.2Anti-dsDNA antibodies208.2 ± 70.4Use of immunosuppressive treatment (n,%)95/108 (87.9)Prednisone (n,%)58/108 (53.7)Azathioprine (n,%)31/108 (28.7)Antimalarial (n,%)73/1...