Idiopathic stuttering priapism treated successfully with low-dose ethinyl estradiol: a single case report.
BACKGROUND
Chronic priapism represents a challenging therapeutic dilemma. Inadequate or deferred treatment can result in impaired quality of life and permanent erectile dysfunction. The etiology of stuttering priapism is speculated to be initially an ischemic injury that damages the neurologic and/or endothelial-mediated mechanisms that normally regulate detumescence and maintain penile flaccidity.


OBJECTIVE
We report a case of stuttering priapism successfully treated with low-dose ethinyl estradiol.


METHODS
A 51-year-old man presented with idiopathic stuttering priapism. Treatment was given in the form of low-dose ethinyl estradiol for six consecutive weeks.


RESULTS
Moderate lowering of testosterone level and effective prevention of priapism for at least 6 months with retaining of erectile function.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of low-dose estrogen shows a potential to be an effective and relatively rapid treatment option for some cases of idiopathic stuttering priapism.
Shamloul
Rany
R
Department of Andrology, Sexology & STDs, Cairo University, 16 road 299. New Maadi, Cairo 11742, Egypt. rannone74@hotmail.com
el Nashaar
Abdelrahman
A
D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011317:Priapism / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D004967:Estrogens; D013739:Testosterone; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol