Efficacy of penile low-intensity shockwave treatment for erectile dysfunction: correlation with the severity of cavernous artery disease.

We analyzed the efficacy of penile low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) combined with cavernous artery disease (CAD). ED was evaluated by the International Index of Erectile Function, subdividing patients into mild and moderate/severe forms. CAD was assessed using penile color Doppler ultrasonography. Patients (n = 111) with a positive outcome after treatment, based upon the minimal clinically important difference of the International Index of ED, were followed up for 3 months and 6 months. We found a significant mean increase in the index of erectile function, with an overall improvement in hemodynamic parameters of the cavernous artery. In particular, 93.9% of the patients with mild ED without CAD responded to treatment and 72.7% resumed normal erectile function. Only 31.2% of the patients with moderate/severe ED and CAD responded to treatment, and none resumed normal erectile function. All patients with mild ED and no CAD maintained the effects of therapy after 3 months, while no patients with moderate/severe ED and CAD maintained the benefits of treatment after 3 months. Thus, patients with mild ED and no CAD have better and longer lasting responses to such treatment, with a higher probability of resuming normal erectile function than patients with moderate/severe ED and CAD.

Asian journal of andrology. 2021 Mar 16 [Epub ahead of print]

Nicola Caretta, Maurizio De Rocco Ponce, Nadia Minicuci, Ilaria De Santis, Pierfrancesco Palego, Andrea Garolla, Carlo Foresta

Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova 35128, Italy., CNR, Neuroscience Institute, Padova 35128, Italy., Foresta Foundation Onlus for Biomedical Research, Padova 35128, Italy.