Demographic, clinical, and serological features of SLE patients with and without erectile dysfunction.
| Variable | SLE without ED, n = 54, mean ± SEM | SLE with ED, n = 120, mean ± SEM | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Demographic | |||
| Total IIEF-5 score, points | 23.6 ± 0.14 | 17.3 ± 0.33 | < 0.0001 |
| Age, yrs | 32.5 ± 1.27 | 36.3 ± 1.03 | 0.022 |
| Weight, kg | 77 ± 1.83 | 77.7 ± 1.41 | 0.76 |
| Height, cm | 171.9 ± 0.99 | 171.4 ± 1.42 | 0.83 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 26 ± 0.60 | 26.9 ± 0.46 | 0.25 |
| Time since diagnosis, yrs | 7.93 ± 1.03 | 8.13 ± 0.68 | 0.87 |
| SLEDAI score, points | 3.62 ± 0.52 | 4.89 ± 0.54 | 0.16 |
| SLICC score, points | 0.80 ± 0.16 | 1.25 ± 0.14 | 0.042 |
| Laboratory features | |||
| Hemoglobin, g/dl | 16.2 ± 1.18 | 14.1 ± 0.24 | 0.015 |
| Leukocytes, cells/μl × 103 | 10.4 ± 3.23 | 6.36 ± 0.22 | 0.21 |
| Lymphocytes, cells/μl | 1644 ± 116 | 1333 ± 54.9 | 0.005 |
| Platelets, cells/μl × 103 | 229 ± 11.3 | 232 ± 7.86 | 0.83 |
| Creatinine, mg/dl | 1.38 ± 0.23 | 1.72 ± 0.31 | 0.48 |
| C3 levels, g/l | 93 ± 4.59 | 92.8 ± 4.28 | 0.97 |
| C4 levels, g/l | 18 ± 1.94 | 19.8 ± 1.20 | 0.38 |
| Anti-dsDNA, IU/ml | 114 ± 37.3 | 135 ± 50.1 | 0.78 |
| Use of immunosuppressive treatment, n (%) | 46 (85) | 108 (90) | 0.60 |
| Prednisone, n (%) | 28 (51) | 82 (68) | 0.043 |
| Current dose, mg/day | 5.32 ± 1.29 | 9.31 ± 1.20 | 0.02 |
| Cumulative dose, previous year, mg | 2398 ± 591 | 2525 ± 337 | 0.85 |
| Cumulative dose, 5 years, mg | 11278 ± 1836 | 11584 ± 1167 | 0.88 |
| Nonexposure to any steroid in previous year, n (%) | 23 (42) | 29 (24) | 0.019 |
| Azathioprine | 18 (33) | 39 (32) | 1 |
| Current dose, mg/day | 31.9 ± 7.22 | 32.9 ± 4.78 | 0.91 |
| Antimalarial | 34 (62) | 73 (60) | 0.86 |
| Current dose, mg/day | 123 ± 15 | 137 ± 11 | 0.48 |
| Methotrexate | 7 (12) | 16 (13) | 1 |
| Current dose, mg/week | 1.60 ± 0.71 | 2.21 ± 0.53 | 0.52 |
| Mycophenolate mofetil, n (%) | 18 (33) | 48 (21) | 0.50 |
| Current dose, mg/day | 517 ± 123 | 665 ± 88 | 0.34 |
| Cumulative dose, 5 yrs, g | 743 ± 179 | 804 ± 154 | 0.81 |
| CYC exposure previous 6 mos, n (%) | 4 (7) | 12 (10) | 0.77 |
| Cumulative dose, 6 mos, g | 0.31 ± 0.18 | 0.36 ± 0.13 | 0.85 |
| CYC exposure to any dose, lifelong, n (%) | 23 (42) | 62 (51) | 0.32 |
| Cumulative dose, lifelong, g | 11.5 ± 6.20 | 10.9 ± 3.60 | 0.92 |
| Nonimmunosuppressive treatment, n (%) | 41 (75) | 97 (80) | 0.54 |
| Antihypertensive | 26 (48) | 77 (64) | 0.06 |
| Antidepressant | 3 (5) | 6 (5) | 1 |
| Antidiabetic | 2 (3) | 5 (4) | 1 |
| Hypolipidemic | 11 (20) | 39 (32) | 0.14 |
| NSAID | 15 (27) | 36 (30) | 0.85 |
| Anticoagulation | 8 (14) | 29 (24) | 0.22 |
| Any comorbidities, n (%) | 24 (44) | 63 (52) | 0.41 |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitus | 0 (0) | 6 (5) | 0.17 |
| Hypertension | 14 (25) | 44 (36) | 0.22 |
| Renal replacement therapy | 2 (3) | 8 (6) | 0.72 |
| Postrenal transplantation | 2 (3) | 5 (4) | 1 |
| Major depressive disorder | 3 (5) | 5 (4) | 0.69 |
| Dyslipidemiaa | 12 (22) | 33 (27) | 0.57 |
| Coronary heart diseaseb | 0 (0) | 5 (4) | 0.32 |
| Arterial and/or venous thrombosis | 12 (22) | 32 (26) | 0.70 |
| Peripheral arterial diseasec | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | ND |
| Smokingd | 11 (20) | 32 (26) | 0.90 |
| Genitourinary surgerye | 3 (5) | 6 (5) | 1 |
| SLE (history), n (%) | |||
| Hematological activity | 14 (25) | 33 (27) | 1 |
| Persistent lymphopenia | 11 (20) | 51 (42) | 0.006 |
| Neurological activity | 4 (7) | 15 (12) | 0.43 |
| Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage | 2 (3) | 7 (5) | 0.72 |
| Renal activity | 23 (42) | 68 (56) | 0.13 |
| APS serology | 13 (24) | 29 (24) | 1 |
Values in bold face represent statistically significant p values.
↵a Hypercholesterolemia ≥ 200 mg/dl (5.18 mmol/l) and/or hypertriglyceridemia ≥ 150 mg/dl (1.69 mmol/l).
↵b Proven by angiography in the last 10 years.
↵c Proven by angiography and/or Doppler ultrasound in the last 10 years.
↵d Current or in the past 5 years.
↵e Any urinary tract, prostate, penis, or testicle surgery, excluding circumcision. SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus; ED: erectile dysfunction; SEM: standard error of the mean; IIEF: Itemized International Index of Erectile Function; BMI: body mass index; SLEDAI: SLE Disease Activity Index; SLICC: Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics; CYC: cyclophosphamide; NSAID: nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs; APS: antiphospholipid síndrome; ND: not determined.