Sunday Feb 15, 2015 (foodconsumer.org) -- A review by Gupta et al. from Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine in New York, New York suggests that penile Doppler ultrasound may be used to predict the risk of cardiovascular disease in men who suffer erectile dysfunction.

Cardiovascular disease is a major killer in the USA.  While many risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and diet may be used to screen for cardiovascular disease, these factors are not everything that indicates the total risk of cardiovascular disease and they miss a population who are at the risk for the disease or cardiovascular events.

The authors of the review mention that another risk factor for cardiovascular disease is erectile dysfunction in men and research has shown that erectile dysfunction can be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.  

(Editor's comment:  It may not be accurate to say that erectile dysfunction is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.  Rather, it is adequate to say that cardiovascular disease can cause erectile dysfunction.  By definition, a risk factor for a health condition is something that contributes to the pathology of the health condition.)

Penile Doppler ultrasound (PDU) can be used to measure parameters such as cavernosal artery peak systolic velocity (PSV), cavernosal artery intima-medial thickness, and the status of cavernosal artery calcification all of which indicate vascular disease in general, according to the review.

The review outlines proper techniques for penile Doppler ultrasound and evidence that supports use of penile Doppler ultrasound to estimate cardiovascular disease risk in men with erectile dysfunction.  (David Liu, PHD)

Gupta N, Herati A, Gilbert BR.  Penile Doppler ultrasound predicting cardiovascular disease in men with erectile dysfunction.  Curr Urol Rep. 2015 Mar;16(3):482.