Penile scintigraphy with 99mTc-human immunoglobulin G: a novel method for distinguishing the unstable and stable phases of Peyronie's disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of penile scintigraphy using 99mTc-human immunoglobulin G (IgG) to differentiate the unstable (acute) and stable (chronic) phases of Peyronie's disease (PD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients (25 with PD and seven without) were evaluated using a detailed sexual history, serum chemistry panel, colour Doppler ultrasonography during simultaneous intracavernosal injection of 50 mg papaverine and stimulation, and 99mTc-IgG scanning. When indicated, nocturnal penile tumescence monitoring, dynamic infusion cavernosometry, cavernosonography and cavernosal artery systolic occlusion pressure were measured. After administering 370 MBq of 99mTc-IgG, images were taken at 30 min, 1, 2, 3 and 4 h. The scans were considered positive if there was any focal accumulation of radiopharmaceutical consistent with PD plaque formation. RESULTS: Eleven of the 25 patients with PD (mean age 56 years, sd 8) were in the unstable phase, the remaining 14 being in the stable phase. There was a localized increase in 99mTc-IgG activity in 10 patients who had unstable PD. There was complete resolution of increased activity in two patients at 12 and 13 months of follow-up. Of the 14 patients in the stable phase, 12 (at > 1 year) showed neither increased nor decreased 99mTc-IgG activity. In the remaining two patients there was increased activity on the plaque side. There was no local increase in activity in the control group. CONCLUSION: Inflammatory reactions can develop at various intervals during the unstable phase of PD. Medical methods should be used during the unstable phase and surgery delayed until the stable phase of the disease begins. An objective method of differentiating between the phases is therefore important. Penile 99mTc-IgG imaging is a new diagnostic approach for confirming the unstable phase of PD.

Effect of experimental varicocele in rats on testicular oxidative stress status.

The present experiments were undertaken to determine the levels of MDA, SOD and catalase in the testis of adolescent rats with experimental left varicoceles. Male Wistar rats, 7 weeks old and weighing 160-170 g, were randomly allocated into three groups. The first group of rats underwent partial ligation of the left renal vein (n = 15). The second group of rats underwent a sham operation (n = 7) and the third group acted as controls (n = 7). Animals were sacrificed 6 weeks after surgery and dilatation of the internal spermatic veins was observed. Levels of MDA, SOD and catalase activity were measured in testis. The experimental left varicocele group showed severe testicular changes compared to other groups. The mean MDA (SEM) levels in right and left testicular tissues of varicocele bearing rats, sham-operated rats, and control rats were 0.48 +/- 0.24 and 0.31 +/- 0.11, 0.22 +/- 0.02 and 0.35 +/- 0.12, 0.62 +/- 0.29 and 0.13 +/- 0.05, respectively (P > 0.05). The mean SOD (SEM) levels in right and left testicular tissues of varicocele bearing rats, sham-operated rats, and control rats were 7,790 +/- 606 and 6,974 +/- 574, 7,475 +/- 1,517 and 7020 +/- 1,106, 8,727 +/- 1,188 and 9,019 +/- 1,129, respectively (P > 0.05). The mean catalase (SEM) levels in right and left testicular tissues of varicocele bearing rats,sham-operated rats, and control rats were 75.77 +/- 11.5 and 53.82 +/- 10.1, 91.94 +/- 14 and 94.90 +/- 32, 65.40 +/- 5.7 and 90.93 +/- 16.4, respectively (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that oxidative status, which reflects a relative balance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated and ROS scavenged, may not be responsible for the testicular dysfunction associated with experimentally induced varicocele during adolescence in rats.

Honeymoon impotence: psychogenic or organic in origin?

OBJECTIVES: Honeymoon impotence is the inability to perform successful sexual intercourse during the initial experience, especially during the first nights of marriage, and it is relatively frequent in Turkey. We investigated the underlying penile vascular abnormalities in patients presenting with honeymoon impotence and sought to differentiate between psychogenic and organic etiologies. METHODS: Between 1989 and 1999, 90 patients sought urologic help for honeymoon impotence. Patient age ranged from 18 to 39 years (mean 28.06 +/- 3.4). All patients were given an intracavernous injection of 60 mg papaverine combined with self-manual genital stimulation (CIS test) to assess the degree of tumescence. Patients with a positive response to the CIS test were later evaluated with nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) monitoring. Patients with a negative response to the CIS test and/or NPT monitoring were evaluated further using penile color Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: A psychogenic etiology was found in 61 patients (67.7%), 50 (55.5%) of whom achieved satisfactory sexual intercourse after intracavernous injection. Twenty-five patients (27.7%) exhibited penile vascular abnormalities by color Doppler ultrasound. Neurogenic erectile dysfunction was considered in the remaining 4 patients (4.4%) with a positive response to the CIS test, abnormal findings on NPT monitoring, and a normal vascular system with color Doppler ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is the first to report penile vascular abnormalities in patients presenting with honeymoon impotence, which was previously believed to be exclusively psychogenic in origin. The evaluation of the penile vascular system in patients with honeymoon impotence may reveal underlying penile vascular abnormalities, allowing the choice of the appropriate therapeutic option.

Peyronie's disease in men under age 40: characteristics and outcome.

Peyronie's disease is most commonly seen in the fifth decade of life. However, a wide range of age (20-83 y) is reported. During a 6-year period, men with Peyronie's disease presenting under the age of 40 were reviewed retrospectively and followed-up. The prevalence of Peyronie's patients presenting under age 40 was 8.2%. Their mean age was 32.47 +/- 5.37 (range: 23-39) y and 78.9% of them presented during the acute phase of the disease. Pain on erection was a part of presenting symptom complex in 52.6% and the majority (84%) had a degree of penile curvature < 60 degrees. Erectile dysfunction (ED) was present in 21% of patients, who responded well to intracavernous injection test. After a minimal 2-year follow-up, improvement in penile deformity was observed in 36.8%, and 42.1% had stable disease while 21% experienced deterioration of the penile curvature. The onset of Peyronie's disease is clinically more noisy and acute in patients presenting under age 40 and this forces the physicians to treat them more vigorously.

Treatment of Peyronie's disease with oral colchicine: long-term results and predictive parameters of successful outcome.

As recent clinical and animal studies have indicated, colchicine, with its anti-fibrotic, anti-mitotic and anti-inflammatory activities, has suppressive effects in the pathogenesis of Peyronie's disease. Oral colchicine treatment was initiated in 60 Peyronie's patients during their acute phase (mean duration of disease: 5.7 +/- 4.3 months). Long-term results, based on changes of subjective and objective criteria, were assessed and predictive factors of successful outcome were investigated. After a mean follow-up of 10.7 +/- 4.7 months, the penile deformity improved in 30%, remained unchanged in 48.3% and deteriorated in 21.7%. Pain resolved in 95%. Best results were obtained in those with no risk factor for vascular disease, presenting during the initial 6 months of disease, degree of curvature <30 degrees, no erectile dysfunction by history and positive response to combined injection and stimulation test. In conclusion since tunica albuginea is affected as a whole in Peyronie's disease, systemic oral agents, such as colchicine, may be preferred in the early phase of the disease.

Urologic complications of extravesical ureteroneocystostomy in renal transplantation from living related donors.

INTRODUCTION: Reconstruction of the urinary system during renal transplantation is usually performed with antirefluxive ureteroneocystostomy techniques and extravesical methods are usually preferred. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1983 and 1997, 241 renal transplantations from living donors were performed at our institution. A variation of the Lich-Gregoir technique was used as the ureteroneocystostomy method in all cases. RESULTS: A total of 12 (4.9%) urologic complications were observed. Urinary fistula developed in 5 (2%) cases and were explored surgically during the early postoperative period. Postoperative vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) to the transplanted kidney was identified in 7 (2.9%) cases. Either endoscopic or surgical interventions resolved VUR in 4 cases while the other 3 did not need further treatment. No ureteral stenosis was observed. There was no loss of graft due to urologic complications. CONCLUSIONS: Urologic complications after renal transplantation are reported to be about 7% and ischemia is blamed as the major contributing factor. Preparation of the native ureter during donor nephrectomy and preservation of distal periureteral fatty tissue, anastomosis technique variations in vascular anatomy, rejections and medications are the major factors determining the ischemia.