Vasectomy and atherosclerosis: an association in man?

We have investigated the distensibility of the lower limb arteries by an ultrasonic technique following vasectomy. Vasectomy accelerates the development of atherosclerosis in animals and this has been attributed to an immunological mechanism. Immunological changes are common in men following this operation, but epidemiological surveys have failed to reveal evidence of an increase in arterial disease. We have studied distensibility at the posterior tibial arteries by Laplace transform analysis of Doppler waveforms in 49 vasectomised men and 33 controls. Statistical analysis of each subject's higher (less distensible) value showed reduced distensibility in the vasectomised group (P = 0.006). This result lends support to the possibility that vasectomy may accelerate the development of peripheral arterial disease in man.