World J Mens Health.  2019 Jan;37(1):85-92. 10.5534/wjmh.180038.

Choroidal Thickness Analysis in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction

• Kim YK
• Lee JH
• Park SP
• Yang DY

• KMID: 2429725
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.180038

Abstract

PURPOSE
To investigate the morphological features of choroidal vasculature in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) by analyzing choroidal thickness using optical coherence tomography.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We enrolled 39 patients with ED and 19 controls. ED was defined as an erectile function domain score < 26 on the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. Small-choroidal-vessel-layer (SCVL) thickness was calculated by subtracting large-choroidal-vessel-layer (which corresponded to Haller's layer) thickness from total choroidal thickness. Choroidal thickness was compared between the ED and control groups.
RESULTS
SCVL thickness was lesser in the ED group than in the control group (control, 69.8±24.3 µm vs. ED, 55.1±19.9 µm; p=0.017). Among patients without diabetes, the ED group showed significantly lesser SCVL thickness than did the control group (control, 77.1±22.7 µm vs. ED, 56.5±20.9 µm; p=0.021). However, among patients with diabetes, choroidal thickness showed no significant intergroup difference. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that spherical equivalent (standardized coefficient β=0.294; p=0.019) and the IIEF erectile function score (standardized coefficient β=0.315; p=0.012) were significantly associated with SCVL thickness.
CONCLUSIONS
SCVL thickness, including the choriocapillaris layer and medium-sized choroidal vascular layer, decreased in proportion to ED severity, suggesting that microvascular changes in choroidal vessels may occur before specific ocular diseases in patients with ED.

Keyword

Choroid; Erectile dysfunction; Tomography, optical coherence

MeSH Terms

Choroid*
Erectile Dysfunction*
Humans
Linear Models
Male
Tomography, Optical Coherence

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Choroidal thickness (CT) measurements. CT (yellow dashed arrows) was measured perpendicularly from the outer border of the retinal pigment epithelium to the inner sclera (yellow line) at three locations: at the fovea, 750 µm temporal to the fovea, and 750 µm nasal to the fovea. Blue asterisks represent the large choroidal vessel located close to the CT measurement locations. Large-choroidal-vessel-layer (LCVL) thickness (orange dashed arrows) was measured from the innermost point of the large choroidal vessel (green dashed lines) to the inner sclera. Small-choroidal-vessellayer (SCVL) thickness (red arrows) was calculated by subtracting LCVL thickness from total CT. We averaged the CT measured at three locations, i.e., subfoveal, temporal, and nasal locations, and used this average value for analysis.

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