Peter Gavorník
Erectile dysfunction is a highly prevalent and progressive condition affecting the quality of life of man and his sexual
partner. Evidence is accumulating in favour of erectile dysfunction as a sign of a genitovascular disease (GVD) in the
majority of patients. Erectile dysfunction may be considered as the clinical manifestation of a organovascular disease
affecting penis (male genitovascular disease – MGVD) as well as angina pectoris is the typical manifestation of a vascular
disease affecting coronary arteries of a heart (cardiovascular disease – CVD). Several studies confirm the assumption
that erectile dysfunction symptoms were found to come prior to cardiovascular disease symptoms in 60 – 95 % of CVD
patients with mean interval of 2 – 3 years and likewise of all organovascular diseases (OVD). Four potent selective PDE-
5Is have been approved by the EMA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Physicians should systematically look for
erectile dysfunction in any male with vascular risk factors.