To assess the relationship between baseline total serum testosterone (T) and clinical outcomes in men affected by Peyronie's disease (PD) stable stage and treated by extra corporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT).
In this study, 168 patients affected by PD in stable stage (≥12 months) and treated with ESWT, were divided into two groups. Group 1 (G1) counted 71 patients with low T levels (≤ 300 ng/dL); Group 2 (G2) consisted of 97 patients with normal T that received ESWT with the same protocol of G1 for six weeks. There were assessed at baseline and follow-up: Erectile dysfunction (ED), presence and severity of painful erections, penile plaque size and penile curvature degree. The results were evaluated at baseline and 3, 6, 12 months after the treatment.
Not statistically significant differences emerged between the two groups at baseline, except for higher presence of patients with ED in G1(90%) vs G2 (52%). Three months after the treatment in G2 pain was resolved completely in 80.4% of the patients, compared with in G1 (54.9%). G2 had a reduction of curvature degree after the 3 months treatment (p<0.001). Mean plaque size decreased in both groups without statistically differences with baseline values. Mean±SD IIEF-5 score progressively improved significantly in the eugonadal men.
This study demonstrated greater efficacy for the treatment of PD in men with normal T concentrations compared with men with low T concentrations. The results obtained from this study suggest that may be value in considering T therapy in men with PD prior to ESWT.
Urology. 2023 Oct 11 [Epub ahead of print]
Lucio Dell'Atti, Viktoria Slyusar, Piero Ronchi
Unit of Quality and Risk Management, University-Hospital of Marche, Ancona - (Italy). Electronic address: ., Pain Therapy Center, Division of Anesthesia and intensive Care, University-Hospital of Marche, Ancona (Italy)., Division of Urology, University-Hospital of Marche, Ancona (Italy).