Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

Published in

Oxford University Press, American Journal of Hypertension, 2(34), p. 134-142, 2020

DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpaa143

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Hypertension and erectile dysfunction: breaking down the challenges

Journal article published in 2020 by Amanda Almeida de Oliveira, Kenia Pedrosa Nunes ORCID
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.
This paper was not found in any repository, but could be made available legally by the author.

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Abstract

Abstract A diagnostic of hypertension increases the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED); likewise, ED can be an early sign of hypertension. In both cases, there is evidence that endothelial dysfunction is a common link between the 2 conditions. During hypertension, the sustained and widespread release of procontractile factors (e.g., angiotensin II, endothelin 1, and aldosterone) impairs the balance between vasoconstrictors and vasodilators and, in turn, detrimentally impacts vascular and erectile structures. This prohypertensive state associates with an enhancement in the generation of reactive oxygen species, which is not compensated by internal antioxidant mechanisms. Recently, the innate immune system, mainly via Toll-like receptor 4, has also been shown to actively contribute to the pathophysiology of hypertension and ED not only by inducing oxidative stress but also by sustaining a low-grade inflammatory state. Furthermore, some drugs used to treat hypertension can cause ED and, consequently, reduce compliance with the prescribed pharmacotherapy. To break down these challenges, in this review, we focus on discussing the well-established as well as the emerging mechanisms linking hypertension and ED with an emphasis on the signaling network of the vasculature and corpora cavernosa, the vascular-like structure of the penis.