The impact of interferon therapy on the sexual function of hepatitis C male patients

Objective
To evaluate the impact of interferon therapy on male sexual function.
Patients and methods
One hundred hepatitis C patients were included in the study. Fifty two patients were receiving interferon and 48 patients were not receiving interferon. All participants underwent history taking including International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) score, general and local examination, assessment of hormonal profile, and pharmacopenile duplex Doppler ultrasonography.
Results
The IIEF-5 score of the noninterferon-treated group (18 ± 6.5) was significantly higher than the interferon-treated group (12 ± 4.5) ( = 0.022). Forty (76.9%) patients on interferon reported low sexual desire compared with 22 (45.8%) patients of noninterferon-treated group ( = 0.001). Total testosterone among interferon-treated patients (188 ± 0.32 ng/dl) was significantly lower than noninterferon-treated patients (270 ± 0.52 ng/dl) ( = 0.001). Similarly, free testosterone level among interferon-treated patients (3 ± 0.22 ng/dl) was significantly lower than noninterferon-treated group (7 ± 2.3 ng/dl) ( = 0.05). Estradiol levels among interferon-treated patients (80 ± 3.3 pg/ml) were significantly higher than noninterferon-treated patients (58 ± 2.3 pg/ml) ( = 0.01). However, prolactin level showed no significant difference between the interferon-treated (13 ± 1.3 ng/ml) and the noninterferon-treated groups (12 ± 1.5 ng/ml) ( = 0.59). Thirty eight (73%) patients on interferon showed vasculogenic erectile dysfunction compared with 32 (66.7%) patients not receiving interferon ( = 0.11). Twenty two (42.2%) patients on interferon showed veno-occlusive dysfunction which was significantly higher than noninterferon group (16.6%) ( = 0.03). Eighteen (37.5%) patients of the noninterferon group showed mixed vasculogenic erectile dysfunction compared with eight (15.4%) patients on interferon ( = 0.05).
Conclusion
Interferon had negative impact on libido, IIEF-5 score, and hormonal profile but did not affect penile hemodynamics.