Priapism is a disorder of persistent penile erection unrelated to sexual interest or desire.
This pathologic condition, specifically the ischemic variant, is often associated with devastating complications, notably erectile dysfunction. Because priapism demonstrates high prevalence in patients with hematological disorders, most commonly sickle cell disease (SCD), there is significant concern for its sequelae in this affected population. Thus, timely diagnosis and management are critical for the prevention or at least reduction of cavernosal tissue ischemia and potential damage consequent to each episode. Current guidelines and management strategies focus primarily on reactive treatments. However, an increasing understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of SCD-associated priapism has led to the identification of new potential therapeutic targets. Future agents are being developed and explored for use in the prevention of priapism.
Written by:
Anele UA, Le BV, Resar LM, Burnett AL. Are you the author?
The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Department of Oncology, and Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.
Reference: Blood. 2015 Mar 25. pii: blood-2014-09-551887.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25810489