TY - JOUR
T1 - Long-term oral phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor therapy alleviates recurrent priapism
AU - Burnett, Arthur L.
AU - Bivalacqua, Trinity J.
AU - Champion, Hunter C.
AU - Musicki, Biljana
PY - 2006/5
Y1 - 2006/5
N2 - Objectives: Recurrent ischemic priapism describes a disorder of repeated episodes of prolonged penile erection that frequently leads to devastating complications of erectile tissue damage and erectile dysfunction. A mechanistic role for dysregulated phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) in the deranged smooth muscle response of the corpus cavernosum of the penis offers new understanding about the pathogenesis of the disorder and suggests that PDE5 may serve as a molecular target for its treatment and prevention. We explored the use of PDE5 inhibitors to treat recurrent priapism, based on the hypothesis that the erection regulatory function of PDE5 would be regularized by this treatment and protect against further episodes. Methods: We administered PDE5 inhibitors using a long-term therapeutic regimen to 3 men with sickle cell disease-associated priapism recurrences and 1 man with idiopathic priapism recurrences. Results: Long-term PDE5 inhibitor treatment alleviated priapism recurrences. Conclusions: These observations support the hypothesis that PDE5 dysregulation exerts a pathogenic role for priapism associated with hematologic dyscrasias, as well as idiopathic priapism. Although these preliminary findings suggest that continuous, long-term PDE5 inhibitor therapy may be useful as a preventative strategy for priapism, additional evaluation in the form of a controlled clinical trial is needed.
AB - Objectives: Recurrent ischemic priapism describes a disorder of repeated episodes of prolonged penile erection that frequently leads to devastating complications of erectile tissue damage and erectile dysfunction. A mechanistic role for dysregulated phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) in the deranged smooth muscle response of the corpus cavernosum of the penis offers new understanding about the pathogenesis of the disorder and suggests that PDE5 may serve as a molecular target for its treatment and prevention. We explored the use of PDE5 inhibitors to treat recurrent priapism, based on the hypothesis that the erection regulatory function of PDE5 would be regularized by this treatment and protect against further episodes. Methods: We administered PDE5 inhibitors using a long-term therapeutic regimen to 3 men with sickle cell disease-associated priapism recurrences and 1 man with idiopathic priapism recurrences. Results: Long-term PDE5 inhibitor treatment alleviated priapism recurrences. Conclusions: These observations support the hypothesis that PDE5 dysregulation exerts a pathogenic role for priapism associated with hematologic dyscrasias, as well as idiopathic priapism. Although these preliminary findings suggest that continuous, long-term PDE5 inhibitor therapy may be useful as a preventative strategy for priapism, additional evaluation in the form of a controlled clinical trial is needed.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.urology.2005.11.045
DO - 10.1016/j.urology.2005.11.045
M3 - Article
C2 - 16698365
AN - SCOPUS:33646849221
SN - 0090-4295
VL - 67
SP - 1043
EP - 1048
JO - Urology
JF - Urology
IS - 5
ER -