Background Sex hormones may play a major role in psoriasis pathogenesis due to their
biological and immunological effects on skin. Psoriasis also has a significant impact on
patients’ sexual function and thus their quality of life.
Aim In the present study, we investigated serum sex hormones and erectile function in
male psoriasis patients compared with healthy controls and correlated these findings with
various disease parameters.
Methods Serum total testosterone and estradiol were measured by an ELISA technique in
50 male patients with psoriasis and 30 healthy controls. The erectile function of all subjects
was assessed by the international index of erectile function version-5.
Results Patients with psoriasis showed a significant lower serum level of total
testosterone, higher level of estradiol, and impaired erectile function relative to healthy
controls.
Conclusion The detected hormonal disturbance in male psoriasis patients may be a cause
of the associated erectile dysfunction beside the known effect of chronic systemic disease
on patients’ erectile function.