Imbalanced low-grade inflammation and endothelial activation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and erectile dysfunction.

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is highly prevalent among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients (T2DM). Although a link among systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and ED is described in clinical situations mainly related with coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, evidences of this link in T2DM patients are rather limited.

Aims: To evaluate the association between endothelial dysfunction and balance of pro-/anti-inflammatory mediators with ED presence and severity in T2DM.