Serum leptin and 5-hydroxytryptamine measurements for the diagnosis and treatment of premature ejaculation.

OBJECTIVE

To study the significance of measurements of plasma leptin and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in the diagnosis of premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODS

We compared plasma leptin and 5-HT levels, intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) and Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation-5 (CIPE-5) scores between 59 patients with PE and 64 healthy control men without PE. We then analyzed the correlations of plasma leptin and 5-HT levels with the IELT and CIPE-5 scores. The patients with PE were administered sertraline (50mg daily) for 8 weeks, and their plasma leptin and 5-HT levels, CIPE-5 scores and IELT were measured again. Comparative analyses of the data were performed between the experimental and control groups and between the pre- and post-treatment values.

RESULTS

Plasma leptin levels were significantly higher (P <.0001), whereas plasma 5-HT levels (P <.0001), IELT (P <.0001), and CIPE-5 scores (P <.0001) were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Significant changes in leptin and 5-HT levels, IELT and CIPE-5 scores were observed after treatment in the experimental group. Plasma leptin levels negatively correlated with 5-HT levels, CIPE-5 scores, and IELT, whereas 5-HT levels positively correlated with IELT and CIPE-5 scores.

CONCLUSION

Plasma leptin and 5-HT levels indicate the presence of PE and can be used as diagnostic markers for PE.