Korean J Urol.
1998 Aug;39(8):788-792.
The Clinical Efficacy of Sympathetic Skin Potential for Neuogenic Impotence
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
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PURPOSE: To date, it is recognized that in many patients erectile dysfunctions are caused by organic disorders. The somatosensory nervous system usually was examined due to the lack of tests for the autonomic nervous system. furthermore, tests for the sympathetic nerve was suggested but that clinical relevance is yet to be established. We describe the results of hand and genital sympathetic skin potentials in flaccid and erectile penile states in normal potent men and patients with neurogenic impotence.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We investigated 10 normal potent male volunteers (mean age 21.9+/-2.02years) and 10 male patients with neurogenic impotence (mean age 41.6+/- 10.35years). The sympathetic skin potentials were obtained with the amplifier Dantec electromyography apparatus connect to the surface electroencephalography silver chloride disk electrodes applied on the skin of the hand as well as on the mons pubis and perineal skin(genital skin) in both groups during the flaccid and erectile states.
RESULTS
The sympathetic skin potentials(SSP) recorded from the genital skin and hand were significantly decreased and even completely suppressed during penile erection in normal male subjects(p<0.01). But neurogenic impotence patients were not significantly decreased during penile erection in sympathetic skin potentials compared to normal subjects.
CONCLUSIONS
Simultaneous recording of sympathetic skin potential from the hand and genital skin during flaccid state and erection of penis may be a useful and objective test to evaluate patients with neurogenic impotence. Further studies involving larger number of patients and meticulous technique are warranted further assess utility of this method.
