The prevalence of Peyronie's disease in Japan: a study in men undergoing maintenance hemodialysis and routine health checks.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of Peyronie's disease (PD) in the general population is believed to be as high as 20%. However, most of the data concerning the prevalence of PD have been obtained from Caucasian populations.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of PD in Asia and among men undergoing hemodialysis and discuss the pathophysiology of PD.


METHODS
A total of 1,090 men who received a routine health check at our hospital (control group) as well as 130 male patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were enrolled. The diagnosis of PD was based on a palpable penile plaque.


METHODS
Hemodialysis patients were asked about their sexual activity and completed the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaires. The differences between patients' and hemodialysis-associated factors, comorbidities, and medications were statistically assessed for patients with and without PD.


RESULTS
The prevalence of PD was significantly increased among hemodialysis patients (12 patients: 9.2%) relative the control group (six men: 0.6%) (P<0.0001, odds ratio: 18.4). In both groups, the plaques were primarily allocated dorsally. In the hemodialysis patients with PD, the frequency of masturbation (P<0.05) and the incidence of moderate or severe erectile dysfunction (P<0.01) were significantly higher than those among hemodialysis patients without PD. In comparison with patients without PD, the number of acetate dialysate users was significantly higher among patients with PD (P<0.05), and none of the PD patients used angiotensin-related antihypertensive drugs (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of PD in healthy Japanese men is low (0.6%), which suggests the existence of racial differences in the prevalence of PD. Moreover, these results indicate that hemodialysis increases the incidence of PD. The differences in the characteristics between male hemodialysis patients with and without PD provide new insights into the pathophysiology and therapeutic window of PD.
Department of Urology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Department of Urology, UBE Industries Central Hospital, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan. shirak@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp
Koji
K
Shiraishi
Tomoyuki
T
Shimabukuro
Hideyasu
H
Matsuyama
D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires