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- $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.
-
-