DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2019.v07i11.055

Pages: 3755-3759

Nitric Oxide (NO) is a crucial player in vascular homeostasis. NO is synthesized within endothelial cells and its plasma levels decreases in patients with diabetic complications like erectile dysfunction. Diabetes mellitus, more in particular type 2, is a known causative factor of endothelial activation and resulting to endothelial injury and erectile dysfunction. This study was carried out to determine the plasma levels of nitric oxide and glycated haemoglobin in Hausa/Fulani type 2 diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction. The study was a cross sectional one carried out at Specialist Hospital, Sokoto from June to December 2018. The patients were assessed; the assessments include history (a questionnaire) and clinical examination. Nitric oxide and glycated haemoglobin were determined in forty (40) male type 2 diabetic subjects with erectile dysfunction and forty-five (45) male type 2 diabetic subjects with no erectile dysfunction using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method. There were significant (p < 0.05) difference between the mean concentration of nitric oxide in type 2 diabetic subjects with erectile dysfunction (45.21 ± 3.77µmol/L) compared to type 2 diabetic subjects with no erectile dysfunction (69.59 ± 4.40µmol/L). There was significant (p < 0.05) difference between the mean concentration of glycated haemoglobin in type 2 diabetic subjects with erectile dysfunction (11.84±0.53%) compared to type 2 diabetic subjects with no erectile dysfunction (8.34±0.71%). This present study revealed that, plasma level of nitric oxide in type 2 diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction was significantly lower, while the level of glycated haemoglobin was significantly higher in Hausa/Fulani. These may serve as markers that could provide an adjuvant intervention for the prevention of chronic diabetic complications.