Safety and six-month durability of angioplasty for isolated penile artery stenoses in patients with erectile dysfunction: a first-in-man study.
OBJECTIVE
Obstructive pelvic arterial lesions are highly prevalent in patients with erectile dysfunction and commonly located in penile artery segments. In this first-in-man study, we intended to assess the safety and feasibility of balloon angioplasty for isolated penile artery stenoses in patients with erectile dysfunction.


RESULTS
Twenty-five patients with erectile dysfunction and isolated penile artery stenoses (unilateral stenosis ≥70% or bilateral stenoses ≥50%) identified by pelvic computed tomographic angiography were enrolled. A total of 20 patients (mean age 61 years [range, 48-79 years]) underwent balloon angioplasty. Three patients had bilateral penile artery stenoses. Procedural success was achieved in all 23 penile arteries, with an average balloon size of 1.6 mm (range, 1.00-2.25 mm). The average International Index for Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score improved from 10.0±5.2 at baseline to 15.2±6.7 (p<0.001) at one month and 15.2±6.3 (p<0.001) at six months. Clinical success (change in the IIEF-5 score ≥4 or normalisation of erectile function [IIEF-5 ≥22]) was achieved in 15 (75%), 13 (65%), and 12 (60%) patients at one, three, and six months, respectively. There were no adverse events through follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time we demonstrated that penile artery angioplasty is safe and can achieve clinically significant improvement in erectile function in 60% of patients with erectile dysfunction and isolated penile artery stenoses.
Cardiovascular Center and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Tzung-Dau
TD
Wang
Wen-Jeng
WJ
Lee
Shao-Chi
SC
Yang
Po-Chih
PC
Lin
Huai-Ching
HC
Tai
Ju-Ton
JT
Hsieh
Shih-Ping
SP
Liu
Chien-Hua
CH
Huang
Wen-Jone
WJ
Chen
Ming-Fong
MF
Chen
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome