Premium
Efficacy of vitamin E in the conservative treatment of P eyronie's disease: legend or reality? A controlled study of 70 cases
Author(s) -
Paulis G.,
Brancato T.,
D'Ascenzo R.,
Giorgio G.,
Nupieri P.,
Orsolini G.,
Alvaro R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2047-2927
pISSN - 2047-2919
DOI - 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2012.00007.x
Subject(s) - legend , disease , medicine , art , art history
Summary The medical treatment is indicated in the development stage of Peyronie's disease ( PD ) for at least 1 year after diagnosis and whenever in case of penile pain. This research was conducted to demonstrate the possible effectiveness of vitamin E in PD treatment, whereas in the scientific literature this topic is much discussed. A total of 70 patients (age:26–69 years, mean: 54.1 ± 9.71) diagnosed with PD were enrolled in a conservative treatment. In addition to medical histories and physical examinations all patients underwent the following tests: International Index of Erectile Function ( IIEF ) questionnaire, penile ultrasound and photographic documentation, pain evaluation by a conventional 10‐point pain scale Visual analogue pain scale ( VAS ). All 70 patients were divided into two different treatment groups: A and B, with different combinations of drugs: A = vitamin E + verapamil (injection + iontophoresis) + blueberries + propolis + topical diclofenac; B = verapamil (injection + iontophoresis) + blueberries + propolis + topical diclofenac. All patients were treated for 6 months after which they underwent the same follow‐up tests as performed prior to the treatment. Intergroup analysis revealed statistically significant differences: in the vitamin E group the effective plaque size reduction was −50.2% whereas in the control group the reduction was −35.8% ( p = 0.027). In group A the improvement of curvature occurred in 96.6% of the cases whereas in the control group B this occurred in 48.4% ( p = 0.0001), moreover, the mean curvature decrease was respectively −12.25° and −6.73° ( p = 0.01). IIEF score was significantly improved in group A patients with comorbidities and erectile dysfunction ( p = 0.025). Increase in plaque size occurred only in the control group (17.1%) ( p = 0.032). We can affirm that vitamin E can help to prevent the progression of PD . This study strongly supports the recommendation that the best approach for treating PD is multimodal therapy.