home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
/
CDRT.iso
/
dp
/
0410
/
04101.txt
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-01-17
|
8KB
|
195 lines
$Unique_ID{BRK04101}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Peyronie Disease}
$Subject{Peyronie Disease Penile Induration Penile Fibrosis Plastic Induration
Corpora Cavernosa Plastic Induration of the Penis Fibrous Cavernositis Chronic
Cavernositis Fibrous Sclerosis of the Penis Fibrous Plaques of the Penis
Penile Fibromatosis Van Buren's Disease Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans
Erythroplasia of Queyrat Dupuytren's Contracture Diabetes Mellitus}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1987, 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
488:
Peyronie Disease
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible the main title of the article (Peyronie Disease) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing on the next page to
find alternate names, disorder subdivisions, and related disorders covered by
this article.
Synonyms
Penile Induration
Penile Fibrosis
Plastic Induration Corpora Cavernosa
Plastic Induration of the Penis
Fibrous Cavernositis
Chronic Cavernositis
Fibrous Sclerosis of the Penis
Fibrous Plaques of the Penis
Penile Fibromatosis
Van Buren's Disease
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans
Erythroplasia of Queyrat
Dupuytren's Contracture
Diabetes Mellitus
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Peyronie Disease is a condition characterized by fibrous plaques in the
soft tissue of the penis of adult males. Cord-like lesions in the penis,
pain, and abnormal penile curvature during erection make it impossible for
many patients to have normal sexual intercourse unless treated. Symptoms may
be chronic, or may spontaneously resolve in some cases.
Symptoms
Peyronie Disease is characterized by dense infiltration of fibrous tissue
into the soft tissue of the penis. These strands of fiber may also appear in
patches of various sizes on the penis (plaques). Formation of the plaques
limit the elasticity of the penis, and cause pain upon erection. Symptoms
may eventually lead to impotence in a few cases. In some cases, the affected
tissue may become calcified. Some Peyronie's patients have been found to
have deposits of excess collagen in connective tissue in other parts of the
body as well. A contracture of fibrous tissue (Dupuytren's Contracture) in
the hand has also been associated with some cases of Peyronie Disease.
Symptoms may spontaneously resolve over long periods of time. Approximately
four years is the average duration of the course of the disorder, although
some symptoms may clear up more quickly.
Causes
The exact cause of Peyronie Disease is not known. This disorder was first
identified in 1743 by Dr. de la Peyronie. Some researchers believe it may be
a genetic disorder. More recent scientific evidence suggests that the
disorder may possibly be induced in some cases by the use of beta-adrenergic
blocking drugs such as propranolol or practolol which are used for the
control of high blood pressure. It may also be caused by recurrent injury
limited to a very small section of the male external genitalia. In other
cases, Peyronie Disease may occur in combination with Diabetes Mellitus.
Affected Population
Peyronie Disease is a disorder which affects adult males, usually during the
fourth and fifth decades of life. Patients have been diagnosed with this
disorder ranging from eighteen to eighty years of age. According to one 1966
study, approximately 3,600 cases were noted in the world medical literature.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Peyronie
Disease. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans is the result of chronic inflammation and
is characterized by a hardened (indurated), pale area surrounding the end of
the penis which may cause constriction. Treatment with antibacterial and
anti-inflammatory drugs may be useful, but surgery may be required in some
cases.
Erythroplasia of Queyrat is a premalignant lesion characterized by an
area of reddish, velvety discoloration on the penis. Biopsy should be
considered for diagnostic purposes. Treatment consists of local application
of fluorouracil cream.
The following disorders may precede the development of Peyronie Disease.
They can be useful in identifying an underlying cause of some forms of this
disorder:
Dupuytren's Contracture is characterized by contracture of the connective
tissue of the palm of the hand caused by fibrous overgrowth. This condition
results in flexion deformities and loss of function of the fingers.
Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough
insulin and is, therefore, unable to convert sugar and other nutrients into
the energy necessary for daily activity. The disorder is not rare and it
affects females and males in equal numbers. Although the exact causes of
insulin-dependent diabetes are not known, genetic factors seem to play a
role. (For more information on this disorder, choose "diabetes" as your
search term in the Rare Disease Database and see the Diabetes section of the
Prevalent Health Conditions/Concerns area of NORD Services.)
Therapies: Standard
In some cases, treatment of Peyronie Disease may not be required since
symptoms can resolve spontaneously over an average period of one to four
years. In other cases, the condition may persist and become disabling.
Conservative treatment which may be useful in treating lesions include
steroid dermojet (needleless pressure injection) treatments in combination
with surgical incision of plaques. Collagenase injections and/or treatment
with another enzyme, superoxide dismutase, may also improve lesions. Skin
grafts and/or radiation therapy have been found helpful in a few severe cases
which failed to respond to drug treatment. Surgery to correct the curvature
of the penis may be effective, although undesirable side effects may develop.
Therapies: Investigational
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through August
1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every
entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please
check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current
information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Peyronie Disease, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
Peyronie's Society of America
P.O. Box 3272
Wichita, KS 67201
(800) 727-7397
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
Box NKUDIC
Bethesda, MD 20892
(301) 468-6345
Scleroderma Federation
One Newbury St.
Peabody, MA 01960
(508) 535-6600
Scleroderma Information Exchange, Inc.
150 Hines Farm Rd.
Cranston, RI 02920
(401) 943-3909
United Scleroderma Foundation
P.O. Box 350
Watsonville, CA 95077
(408) 728-2202
References
HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSES IN PEYRONIE'S DISEASE PATIENTS RECEIVING CLOSTRIDIAL
COLLAGENASE THERAPY: R.G. Hamilton, et al.; J Urol (March 1986, issue 135
(3)). Pp. 641-647.
TREATMENT OF IMPOTENCE. 2. SURGICAL METHODS: N. Baum; Postgrad Med (May
15, 1987; issue 81(7)). Pp. 137-140.
PEYRONIE'S DISEASE: C.E. Horton, et al.; Ann Plast Surg (February 1987,
issue 18(2)). Pp. 122-127.
PEYRONIE'S DISEASE: A METHOD OF TREATMENT: Esat Toksu; The Journal of
Urology (April 1971). Pp. 523-524.