Chromosome abnormalities in Peyronie's disease

Peyronie's disease is a localized and progressive fibrosis of unknown etiology that affects the tunica albuginea of the penis. We examined cytogenetically cell cultures derived from plaque, adjacent tunica, dermis and lymphocytes in patients with Peyronie's disease, and compared the results to cell cultures established from the tunica albuginea of control patients. Chromosomal abnormalities were detected in 9 plaque-derived cell cultures from 7 of 12 Peyronie's disease patients (58 per cent). Cells cultured from adjacent tunica, dermis and lymphocytes from the same patients were karyotypically normal, as were cultures derived from control (chordee and penile scar) patients. Chromosomal aberrations consisted of 5 numerical changes and 4 structural rearrangements, and included chromosomal additions (trisomy 7 and trisomy 8), deletions (45X,-Y), reciprocal translocations and inversions or markers. In 2 instances cultures derived from plaque tissue contained 2 independent chromosomal abnormalities. The apparently random chromosomal changes associated with Peyronie's disease suggests that karyotypic instability may be a common feature of cells within the plaque. It presently is unclear whether this finding represents multiple pathways for the development of Peyronie's disease or secondary consequences of Peyronie's disease.