title: Priapism and impotence in homozygous sickle cell disease.
abstract: A questionnaire study of Jamaican patients with homozygous sickle cell (SS) disease indicated a 42% prevalence of priapism, with a median age at onset of 21 years. Two predominantly different patterns of priapism were recorded: short "stuttering" episodes lasting less than three hours, with normal consequent sexual function, and severe prolonged attacks (generally more than 24 hours) commonly followed by impotence. Stuttering episodes were frequently a prodrome to a major attack. Over one fourth of those who had suffered priapism had some degree of impotence. Hematologic analysis indicated that priapism was significantly associated with low hemoglobin F levels and high platelet counts. Patients with severe attacks of priapism had lower hemoglobin F levels and reticulocyte count, and a higher mean corpuscular volume, than patients with only stuttering episodes. Priapism and impotence contribute to the morbidity of SS disease more frequently than previously recognized.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count; D011317:Priapism / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D012156:Reticulocytes / Q000473:pathology; D013342:Stuttering / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin