title: Intralesional interferon-alpha-2B injections for the treatment of Peyronie's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intralesional therapies provide an alternative to surgical treatment of Peyronie's disease (PD). This study examines the efficacy of intraplaque injections of interferon-alpha-2B (IFN-alpha-2B) in the treatment of PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients were enrolled in the study with 21 completing the study. The average age of the study participants was 55.8 years, with 10 of the 21 having diabetes, hypertension, or both. Seven patients received placebo injections using 10 ml saline biweekly for 6 weeks before interferon therapy, and all 21 patients received biweekly injections of 2 x 10(6) U IFN-alpha-2B for 6 weeks before reevaluation. Patients were evaluated with duplex Doppler ultrasonography to assess penile curvature and blood flow.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire was completed by 14 of 21 men to assess severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) before and after treatment. Improvements of 20% or more in penile curvature occurred in 14 (67%) of 21 men. Penile pain decreased in eight (80%) of 10, and plaque size decreased subjectively in 15 (71%) of 21 participants. The International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire showed significant improvement of ED in five (71%) of seven men with baseline moderate to severe ED. Peak systolic blood flow improved in three (43%) of seven men with baseline hemodynamic impairment, and veno-occlusive disease resolved in three (18%) of 17 individuals. IFN-alpha-2B injections led to significant improvements in penile pain and curvature caused by PD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of intralesional IFN-alpha-2B injections in improving ED are encouraging. The study findings warrant further investigation of the effectiveness of IFN-alpha-2B injections for treatment of PD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Matern
authors.forename: Trinity J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Bivalacqua
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sikka
authors.forename: Wayne J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hellstrom
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins