Evaluation of efficacy of shockwave therapy in the treatment of Peyronie's disease

Abstract

Peyronie's disease is a relatively common urological disorder that can cause pain in the erect state, curvature of the penis, and sexual dysfunction by forming plaques along the male reproductive organ. Treatment with external shock Waves (ESWT) for managing Peyronie's disease is among the emerging non-invasive interventions. Despite numerous studies conducted, the data remains limited in this regard. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of ESWT on Peyronie's disease. Method: After obtaining ethical committee approval from the university, patients referred to the urology clinic of Imam Reza Hospital over the past year, who were in the acute phase of Peyronie's disease and had less than a 40-degree penile deviation, and were undergoing shockwave therapy, will be examined. Information including age, characteristics of fibrotic plaques, concomitant non-shockwave therapies, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5), and pain level as assessed by the urologist before and after treatment will be extracted and documented from the records. Ultimately, the collected data will undergo statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of recruited patients is 54.1. Seven percent of them had a history of trauma to the penis. Additionally, 30 percent had diabetes, and 36 percent had hypertension. According to the statistical analysis conducted, shockwave therapy resulted in a reduction in pain and an increase in the IIEF-5 score. However, shockwave therapy had no effect on the length of the plaque or the degree of curvature of the penis.