To evaluate the efficacy of low-intensity shock wave therapy and to identify the predictive factors of its efficacy in Japanese patients with erectile dysfunction.
The present study included 57 patients with erectile dysfunction who satisfied all the following conditions: more than 6-months history of erectile dysfunction, sexual health inventory for men score of ≤12 without phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor, erection hardness score grade 1 or 2, mean penile circumferential change by erectometer assessing sleep related erection of Patients were treated by a low-energy shock waves generator (ED1000; Medispec, Gaithersburg, MD, USA). A total of 12 shock wave treatments were applied. Sexual health inventory for men score, erection hardness score with or without phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor, and mean penile circumferential change were assessed at baseline, 1, 3 and 6 months after the termination of low-intensity shock wave therapy.
Of 57 patients who were assigned for the low-intensity shock wave therapy trial, 56 patients were analyzed. Patients had a median age of 64 years. The sexual health inventory for men and erection hardness score (with and without phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor) were significantly increased (P < 0. 001) at each time-point. The mean penile circumferential change was also increased from 13. 1 to 20. 2 mm after low-intensity shock wave therapy (P < 0. 001). In the multivariate analysis, age and the number of concomitant comorbidities were statistically significant predictors for the efficacy.
Low-intensity shock wave therapy seems to be an effective physical therapy for erectile dysfunction. Age and comorbidities are negative predictive factors of therapeutic response.
International journal of urology : official journal of the Japanese Urological Association. 2015 Oct 26 [Epub ahead of print]
Shin-Ichi Hisasue, Toshiyuki China, Akira Horiuchi, Masaki Kimura, Keisuke Saito, Shuji Isotani, Hisamitsu Ide, Satoru Muto, Raizo Yamaguchi, Shigeo Horie
Department of Urology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. , Department of Urology, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.