This method ological choice confers to the results a strong clinical relevance as PC has been reported to be one of the major determinants of bother and psychological distress in PD patients [ 2 ] .
Initially , the results in terms of PC were disappointing , probably due to the inadequate dosage and regimen of the drug , or simply because of wrong
In this month 's issue of European Urology , Russo et al. [ 1 ] published the results of a systematic review of the literature about the efficacy of injection therapies , vacuum devices , and penile traction in patients with Peyronie 's disease ( PD ) .
Historically , oral and intralesional therapies have represented the initial conservative option with surgery being considered the definitive gold st and ard therapy in stable disease .
More recently , recommended treatment algorithms have significantly shifted due to the introduction of potential new first-line options .
In this scenario , oral treatments have become less commonly prescribed due to inconsistent or negative outcome data , and intralesional therapies have gained growing interest .
Treatment of Peyronie's disease with local interferon-alpha 2b.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous interferon-alpha 2b in the treatment of Peyronie 's disease . PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-three men ( mean age 53 years , range 27 - 69 ) received interferon-alpha 2b in an unr and omized prospect i ve study . The drug was injected subcutaneously adjacent to the plaque three times a week for 3 weeks at a dose of 2 x 106 IU . The effect of interferon-alpha 2b on the extent of penile deviation , plaque size and erectile pain were investigated , and the drug 's side-effects were documented . The mean ( range ) follow-up was 22 ( 4 - 48 ) months RESULTS All patients had pain relief and 13 of 19 with pain before treatment became pain-free . The penile deviation was reduced in one patient ; the deviation increased despite therapy in one patient and remained stable in the others . Plaque size remained unchanged in all patients . Impaired sexual function was improved in seven ( 30 % ) of the patients . Side-effects ( myalgia , fever ) occurred after only four of 207 injections ( 2 % ) . CONCLUSIONS Subcutaneous interferon-alpha 2b is safe , well tolerated and relieves pain . However , with no objective reduction in penile deviation and plaque size , the outcome of interferon-alpha 2b therapy is generally unconvincing and the drug can not be recommended for the conservative treatment of Peyronie 's disease
This method ological choice confers to the results a strong clinical relevance as PC has been reported to be one of the major determinants of bother and psychological distress in PD patients [ 2 ] .
Initially , the results in terms of PC were disappointing , probably due to the inadequate dosage and regimen of the drug , or simply because of wrong
In this month 's issue of European Urology , Russo et al. [ 1 ] published the results of a systematic review of the literature about the efficacy of injection therapies , vacuum devices , and penile traction in patients with Peyronie 's disease ( PD ) .
Historically , oral and intralesional therapies have represented the initial conservative option with surgery being considered the definitive gold st and ard therapy in stable disease .
More recently , recommended treatment algorithms have significantly shifted due to the introduction of potential new first-line options .
In this scenario , oral treatments have become less commonly prescribed due to inconsistent or negative outcome data , and intralesional therapies have gained growing interest .