title: Heparin-induced priapism.
abstract: Heparin-induced priapism constitutes a special form of pharmaco-induced prolonged erection, but the pathophysiological principles are not yet definitely clear. Heparin-induced antiplatelet-antibodies may lead to the aggregation of thrombocytes and thus alter the penile blood flow leading to low-flow priapism. Alternatively, this condition may be explained by initial high-flow priapism that later turns into ischemic priapism. The question remains whether hemorrhage with subsequent organisation of the hematoma and late fibrosis constitutes a pathogenetic factor. Besides this pathogenetic discussion, this paper presents the differential diagnosis of priapism as well as diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Bschleipfer
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Hauck
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Diemer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bitzer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kirkpatrick Ch
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pust
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weidner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011317:Priapism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin