Prolonged ischemic priapism in patients with sickling hemoglobinopathies is a urologic emergency requiring immediate intervention to avoid irreversible anoxic penile injury, corporal fibrosis, and erectile dysfunction.
Therapeutic options, however, are limited and often ineffective. Here, we report recovery of erectile function with hydroxyurea therapy in an adolescent with hemoglobin SS following a prolonged episode of priapism and subsequent severe erectile dysfunction. This case suggests a potential role of hydroxyurea in reversing end organ damage in patients with hemoglobin SS and also supports basic science work indicating involvement of the NO-dependent pathway in the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease-associated priapism.
Written by:
Anele UA, Kyle Mack A, Resar LM, Burnett AL. Are you the author?
Urology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
Reference: Int Urol Nephrol. 2014 May 14. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s11255-014-0737-7
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24824148
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