Provocability of CC-EMG-signals as a parameter in the assessment of erectile dysfunction

Abstract

Parameters of CC-EMG able to distingiush between healthy controls and men with erectile dysfunction of different etiology in the individual case are currently unknown. Groups of healthy volunteers and men with erectile dysfunction however show significant differences in provocability of slow cavernous electric activity, i.e. if so called "typical single potentials" (tSP) can be recorded already under resting conditions, or only with provocation, or if any activity is missing. In men, who showed tSP already under resting conditions, a significantly higher extent of provoked activity could be assessed as in those, who showed tSP only after provocation. This applies to the number as well as for the extent of the responses to the 3 stimuli valsalva-manoeuvre, arousal and hyperventilation. Patients, who had shown tSP already under resting conditions, were similar to the controls, from whom those, who showed tSP exclusively with provocation differed significantly. Further research will have to prove, if the parameter "provocability" together with the parameter "extent of the provoked cavernous electric activity" might be able to to lead to a better distinction of healthy and pathological situations which would be a precondition for the introduction of the method into clinical use.