Effect of thiazide diuretics on nitric oxide and some hormones linked to erectile function in hypertension.

Background Erectile dysfunction is the inability of a man to achieve and maintain an erection for desired and satisfactory sexual intercourse. Thiazide diuretics had been reported to affect some body functions especially erectile function. This study, therefore, investigates the effect of thiazide diuretics on nitric oxide and hormones linked with erectile function in hypertensive patients on this drug. Methods The study includes 150 subjects with 50 hypertensive patients on thiazide diuretics management regime (group 1), 50 hypertensive patients not under any management regime (group 2) and 50 normotensive subjects (group 3) attending the Osun State Specialist Hospital, llesha Osun State. Nitric oxide was determined with the spectrophotometric method while prolactin, estrogen and testosterone were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Results The mean serum levels of nitric oxide was significantly lower (p< 0.05) in hypertensive subjects not under any management regime (group 2) than in the healthy subjects (group 3) and the test subjects (group 1) respectively. Also, estrogen levels were significantly reduced (p<0.05) in hypertensive subjects using thiazide diuretics than in hypertensive subjects that have been left unmanaged; while both values are significantly lower than estrogen levels in healthy subjects. The result of the study also showed that the serum testosterone levels of hypertensive subjects under the thiazide diuretics management plan were significantly lower (p< 0.05) than that of hypertensive subjects not on any medications and healthy subjects. Finally, serum prolactin levels were significantly higher (p< 0.05) in hypertensive patients on thiazide diuretics and hypertensive patients not under any management regime than the mean value in normotensive subjects. Conclusion This study shows that thiazide diuretics have no effect on nitric oxide or estrogen levels in relation to erectile dysfunction while its effects on testosterone and prolactin levels can be related to the occurrence of erectile dysfunction in patients using thiazide diuretics as an antihypertensive regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]