title: Medical management of Peyronie's disease.
abstract: Peyronie's disease (PD) is a wound-healing disorder in which a fibrotic plaque forms in the tunica albuginea layer of the penis. It clinically presents as any combination of penile pain, angulation, and erectile dysfunction. Recent studies indicate that PD has a prevalence of 3%-9% in adult men. Although the exact etiology has not been established, PD likely results from a predisposing genetic susceptibility combined with an inciting event such as microtrauma during intercourse. During the initial acute phase (6-18 months), the condition may progress, stabilize, or regress. For this reason authorities recommend a more conservative treatment approach, with a trial of oral and/or intralesional pharmacotherapy, before surgical reconstruction is considered. Oral therapies most commonly employed include tocopherol (vitamin E) and paraaminobenzoate (Potaba), with colchicine, tamoxifen, propoleum, and acetyl-L-carnitine being used less often. There are a limited number of long-term placebo-controlled studies with these oral agents, and for the most part, studies have failed to show a consistent beneficial effect. Intralesional injection therapy for PD is more commonly used as a first-line therapy. The current standard of care includes injection with interferon-alpha-2b, verapamil, or collagenase. Interferon-alpha-2b, in particular, has been documented in a large, multicenter, placebo-controlled study to show significant benefit over placebo in decreasing penile curvature, plaque size, penile pain, and plaque density. However, intralesional interferon is associated with posttreatment flu-like symptoms unless patients are premedicated with a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agent. Other available therapies that have not consistently shown efficacy in placebo-controlled studies include corticosteroids, orgotein, radiation, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy. Surgery is considered when men with PD do not respond to conservative or medical therapy for approximately 1 year and cannot perform satisfactory sexual intercourse. Ongoing basic research in PD will likely identify future targets for medical exploitation.
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Urology, 1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112-2699, USA. whellst@tulane.edu
authors.forename: Wayne J G
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Hellstrom
mesh_terms: D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D003078:Colchicine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017364:Collagenases / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008667:Metalloproteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D014700:Verapamil; D017364:Collagenases; C005180:orgotein; D024505:Tocopherols; D003078:Colchicine; D010129:4-Aminobenzoic Acid