Hyperemic stress test in diagnosis of vasculogenic impotence.

A hyperemic stress test was used to determine vasculogenic impotence in 100 men (50 potent, 50 impotent). Normal potent males had a resting penile:brachial index ratio of 0.75 and uniformly demonstrated a hyperemic response to the cuff occlusion stress test with a mean of 20 per cent increase in penile pressure. Penile blood pressure did not increase in impotent men, and often it decreased in response to the stress test.