Single Potential Analysis of Corpus Cavernosum Electromyography for the Assessment of Erectile Dysfunction: Provocation, Reproducibility and Age Dependence-Findings in 36 Healthy Volunteers and 324 Patients

Purpose

Corpus cavernosum electromyography is a controversial method for assessing erectile failure. For its application as a diagnostic tool with clinical relevance, intra-individual stability of the parameters in independent recordings as well as information about provocation and age dependence are required.

Materials and Methods

We investigated reproducibility, provocation and age dependence of 11 parameters of single potential analysis of corpus cavernosum electromyography for 36 healthy volunteers in 2 independent recordings with surface electrodes using a visual evaluation technique. Recording 1 results were compared to findings for 324 men with erectile dysfunction.

Results

In healthy subjects all parameters varied extremely among individuals and they were poorly reproducible at repetition. The definition of a normal range as mean plus or minus 2.5 standard deviations did not result in useful diagnostic criteria for individual cases. Activity was not age dependent. Significant differences between healthy and impotent men as defined groups were found in provocation (overall maximum likelihood chi-square 15.5, dF = 2, p <0.0005).

Conclusions

Single potential analysis of corpus cavernosum electromyography seems to be appropriate for distinguishing potent volunteers from patients with erectile dysfunction. Provocation of slow cavernous electric activity seems to be a promising parameter that should be considered for ongoing studies. However, a high range of variation of findings even intra-individually does not currently qualify the method for routine clinical use. Further research will show whether different means of documentation or evaluation, that is corpus cavernosum electromyography pattern analysis at rest after audiovisual sexual stimulation, drug application or digital conversion of data, will lead to better results.