title: Efficacy of vitamin E in the conservative treatment of Peyronie's disease: legend or reality? A controlled study of 70 cases.
abstract: The medical treatment is indicated in the development stage of Peyronie's disease (PD) for at least 1 year after diagnosis and whenever in case of penile pain. This research was conducted to demonstrate the possible effectiveness of vitamin E in PD treatment, whereas in the scientific literature this topic is much discussed. A total of 70 patients (age:26-69 years, mean: 54.1 ± 9.71) diagnosed with PD were enrolled in a conservative treatment. In addition to medical histories and physical examinations all patients underwent the following tests: International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, penile ultrasound and photographic documentation, pain evaluation by a conventional 10-point pain scale Visual analogue pain scale (VAS). All 70 patients were divided into two different treatment groups: A and B, with different combinations of drugs: A = vitamin E + verapamil (injection + iontophoresis) + blueberries + propolis + topical diclofenac; B = verapamil (injection + iontophoresis) + blueberries + propolis + topical diclofenac. All patients were treated for 6 months after which they underwent the same follow-up tests as performed prior to the treatment. Intergroup analysis revealed statistically significant differences: in the vitamin E group the effective plaque size reduction was -50.2% whereas in the control group the reduction was -35.8% (p = 0.027). In group A the improvement of curvature occurred in 96.6% of the cases whereas in the control group B this occurred in 48.4% (p = 0.0001), moreover, the mean curvature decrease was respectively -12.25° and -6.73° (p = 0.01). IIEF score was significantly improved in group A patients with comorbidities and erectile dysfunction (p = 0.025). Increase in plaque size occurred only in the control group (17.1%) (p = 0.032). We can affirm that vitamin E can help to prevent the progression of PD. This study strongly supports the recommendation that the best approach for treating PD is multimodal therapy.
authors.affiliation: Andrology Service, Regina Apostolorum Hospital, Via San Francesco 50, Albano Laziale, Rome, Italy. paulisg@libero.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paulis
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brancato
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Ascenzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Giorgio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nupieri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Orsolini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvaro
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D029798:Blueberry Plants; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011429:Propolis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012384:Rome; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E; D004008:Diclofenac; D011429:Propolis; D014700:Verapamil