Non-conventional therapies for Peyronie’s disease: what is the evidence for efficacy?

Introduction

In recent years, several novel treatments for Peyronie’s disease (PD) have emerged that are not part of current clinical guidelines (1-3). These non-conventional PD treatments include platelet-rich plasma (PRP), hyaluronic acid (HA), combination therapy of PRP and HA, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), stem cell therapy (SCT), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and H-100. With the rapid expansion and interest in these novel therapies, it is important for both patients and providers to understand the latest evidence supporting their safety and efficacy. The purpose of this narrative review is to analyze the current evidence supporting non-conventional treatments of PD.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted. Medline, Embase, Central, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched to find studies published between January 2000 and January 2019 investigating current non-conventional treatments of PD. The following key terms were used: “Peyronie’s Disease” OR “Penile Curvature,” AND “Non-conventional treatment” OR “Platelet-rich plasma” OR “Hyaluronic Acid” OR “Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy” OR “Stem Cell Therapy” OR “Mycophenolate Mofetil” OR “H-100”. Review articles were excluded. Studies examining conventional treatments for PD were excluded. Our analysis focused on subjective and objective measures of improvement in angulation, erectile function, and pain. Complications and availability of each modality were also compared.

Results

A total of 14 articles met the inclusion criteria for non-conventional therapies for PD (Table 1). These include PRP, HA, combination therapy of PRP and HA, ESWT, SCT, MMF, and H-100.

Table 1 Non-conventional therapies for Peyronie’s disease
Full table

Platelet-rich plasma

PRP is a penile injection formed of various growth factors to facilitate tissue repair and wound healing. These factors include platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), insulin-like growth factor, epidermal growth factor, and plasma proteins. PRP accelerates wound healing and tissue regeneration in affected regions. While it has been used in other surgical specialties and dental surgery, it is new in the treatment of PD.

In the histopathological examination of TGF-β induced Peyronie’s plaques in rat models treated with PRP (n=20), Culha et al. reported similar fibrosis scores on H&E staining between the PRP-treated and untreated group (4 untreated vs. 3.4±0.5 treated, P=0.122) (4). Interestingly, the PRP injection itself induced similar histological features as the Peyronie’s plaque created by the TGF-β injection. Matz et al. investigated PRP injections in patients with PD (n=17), with a mean of 2.1 injections per patient (5). International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores increased by an average of 4.14 points for all PD patients, with 80% achieving an improvement in erectile function.

However, the study by Matz et al. was non-randomized, retrospective, and lacked a placebo control group (5). The study is also limited by the small sample size. PRP requires injections to the penis, which is not only distressing to the patient but can result in fibrosis of the corpora cavernosa, further worsening the problem. The 2018 study by Culha et al. did not evaluate erectile capacities of the rat by measuring intracavernosal pressure, no staining was made with anti-TGF-B antigen, and a subjective scoring format was used instead of a quantitative method for studying fibrosis (4).

HA

HA is an extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycan that can support hydration and turgidity of the amorphous tissue matrix. In PD, HA is thought to oppose factors that promote inflammation and oxidative stress (6). A prospective, multi-center study by Zucchi et al. studied patients who received weekly intraplaque injections with HA (n=65) (7). At two months post-therapy, plaque size decreased by 2 mm, (P<0.0001), IIEF-5 scores improved by 1 point (P<0.0001), average visual analogue scale (VAS) score improved from 6/10 to 8/10, and patient global impression of improvement (PGI-I) scores improved by 69%. Penile curvature improved by an average of 10° (7). A 2017 double-blinded RCT involving men experiencing the acute phase of PD (n=132) comparing HA and verapamil demonstrated better PGI-I scores in the HA group (4.0 HA vs. 2.0 verapamil; P<0.05) and improvement in mean curvature by 4.60° (P<0.001) (8).

The study by Zucchi et al. lacked randomization and a placebo group, in addition to a limited sample size from each center (7). Furthermore, the VAS score was used to measure pain as opposed to standardized erectile questionnaires such as the IIEF. The 2017 study by Favilla is limited by the lack of a control group, short follow-up (12 weeks), and variability in plaque size measurement amongst the 11 centres (8). Although both studies reported statistically significant improvements in various PD parameters, the absolute changes may not be appreciated clinically.

Combination therapy of PRP and HA

Virag and colleagues investigated the effect of a combination of PRP and HA for the treatment of PD (9). In their study, patients were injected with 8 mL of PRP and HA directly into the tunica albuginea and repeated 4 times over 2 months (n=90). They noted improvements across several Peyronie’s Disease Questionnaires (PDQ): PDQ1, 0.720–2.968, P=0.002; PDQ2, 0.275–3.225, P=0.021; PDQ3, 1.520–3.220, P<0.001 (9). Patients with prior ED (n=11) were found to have decreased in their deformation, improvement in erections, easier sexual activity, and improvement in their first condition. The mean reduction of angulation was 18.08° at 2 months, and 73.3% of these ED patients proved satisfactory results (9). However, this study lacked a control group, making it difficult to gain meaningful insight into this combination therapy compared to the current standard of care.

ESWT

ESWT was initially explored as an alternative to invasive surgical options. Proposed mechanisms of action included a breakdown of fibrotic tissue by shockwaves and induction of inflammatory response for plaque lysis and removal (10). Claro et al. examined the role of ESWT and high dose vitamin E compared to vitamin E alone (11). Of 25 men treated with the dual therapy, 18 (72%) reported a decrease in curvature with a mean reduction of 21° at 3 months. Similarly, Di Mauro et al. observed in 325 men treated with shockwave therapy that penile plaque size improved from 1.78 to 1.53 cm², penile length increased from 13.0 to 14.0 cm, pain on VAS decreased from 7 to 3, as well as improvement in each IIEF sub-domain (P<0.001) and all three PD questionnaire domains (P<0.001) (12).

The study by Claro et al. is limited by small sample size and lacks long-term follow-up (11). The lack of randomization in both the 2004 study by Claro and the 2019 study by Di Mauro make the studies prone to selection bias (11,12). Also, the open-label design without control for both studies may affect clinical outcomes.

SCT

SCT is an emerging modality of treatment for PD. Although the exact mechanism of action is unknown, proposed theories include upregulation of cytokines and trophic factors, reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress, extracellular matrix modulation, and differentiation into target cells to replace damaged tissue (13). Recently, mesenchymal stem cells have gained popularity over embryonic stem cells due to the ethical and logistical challenges associated with the latter. Mesenchymal stem cells are pluripotent and easily accessible, originating from a variety of tissues, including fetal tissue, umbilical cord blood, and adult tissues. Studies have examined the treatment of ED with adipose-derived stem-cells (ADSC). In animal models of ED from vascular or neurological deficits, ADSC has been shown to improve penile hemodynamics (14-16).

Using human ADSC on TGF-β treated rat models (n=27), Castiglione et al. reported decreased expression of disordered collagen type III and elastin, which are found in PD plaques, by 69.9% and 47.7%, respectively (17). In addition, they found a statistically significant improvement in erectile function (intracavernous pressure/mean arterial pressure 0.37 untreated vs. 0.59 treated, P=0.03) Gokce and colleagues reported downregulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and increased expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) with rat ADSC injections with or without interferon α-2b in TGF-β treated rats (n=24 and n=36) (18,19). This attenuates the fibrotic response and increases collagen degradation. ADSC has also been studied in tunica albuginea reconstruction in rat models. Ma et al. reported that ADSC-seeded grafts resulted in better preserved cavernosal tissue (P<0.001) and erectile function (P<0.05) than graft alone in rats undergoing bilateral incision of tunica albuginea (20).

In human trials, Levy et al. treated 5 patients with a total of 10 Peyronie’s plaques with a single injection of placental matrix-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PM-MSC) derived from chorionic placenta (21). Plaque volumes were reduced by 33.3–98.7% at 6 weeks, 45.8–100% at 3 months, and close to 100% at 6 months. Mean reduction in curvature at 6 weeks was 49.7°. Overall, the study noted an improvement in curvature ranging from 30–120°. Peak systolic velocity also improved. There were no statistically significant differences in stretched penile length (15.2 cm baseline vs. 15.5 cm at 3 months).

While autologous SCT in PD is exciting due to its pluripotency and minimal risk of rejection, this treatment is still in early experimental phases. At present, most studies are based on rat models with TGF-β induced PD (17-21). Given the limitations of animal models, most studies focus on ED, histopathological, and biochemical changes. To date, there is only one study involving humans (n=5) (20). Furthermore, the use of stem cells in regenerative therapy is still controversial due to its oncogenic potential and long-term safety. There are currently no studies comparing oncogenicity between intact and lysed ADSC.

MMF

While primarily used as an immunosuppressant in organ transplantation, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has previously been shown to reduce collagen synthesis and fibroblast activity with some success in treating retroperitoneal fibrosis (22). Earlier this year, Antoniassi and colleagues reported the use of MMF on rat models with TGF-β induced PD (n=20) (23). Histochemical and stereological analyses demonstrated that the architecture of elastin and relative proportions of collagen types III and I approached normality following thirty days of MMF (Type III/Type I ratio: control 0.42, TGF-β 0.82, MMF-7 days 0.65, MMF-30 days 0.31). This suggests that MMF may be a practical anti-fibrotic agent in PD. However, this study is limited by the small sample size, use of animal models, and the lack of durable long-term data. The authors also note that future studies should determine therapeutic doses for PD.

H-100

Most therapies described thus far target stable Peyronie’s plaques as opposed to acute phase disease. H-100 is a novel topical agent aimed to address this space. It consists of nicardipine as an anti-fibrotic agent like verapamil, superoxide dismutase as an anti-inflammatory by targeting free oxygen radicals, and emu oil as a transdermal carrier agent. Twidwell and Levine studied H-100 in a prospective randomized trial of patients with acute phase PD (<12 months duration, n=22) (24). Following six months of therapy, improvements were noted in mean stretched flaccid penile length (22.6%, mean =2.4 cm, range =0.7–4.3 cm, P=0.0002), mean curvature (40.8%, mean =20.2 degrees, range =3–55 degrees, P=0.001), and mean pain level (85.7%, mean =3.0, range =0–8, P=0.004). Similar benefits were observed in the crossover patients from the placebo group. This topical treatment was well tolerated with only a mild rash reported in three of the 22 patients. While this pilot study demonstrates the safety of H-100, larger trials are needed to determine its efficacy and histochemical analyses can be used to examine the connective tissue changes and extent of H-100 penetration into the tunica albuginea (24).

Discussion

At this time, the evidence supporting non-conventional treatments for PD is limited. Although PRP, HA, combination therapy of PRP and HA, ESWT, SCT, MMF, and H-100 are currently offered in some clinical settings, the quality of evidence is poor due to the methodological limitations highlighted above.

There are currently no recommended oral therapies for the correction of PD according to the Canadian Urological Association (CUA), American Urological Association (AUA), and European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines (Table 2) (25-27). For pain management during the active form of the disease, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended, along with limiting positions during intercourse to minimize pain during penetration (25-27). Oral phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are used in patients to improve ED associated with PD (25).

Table 2 Current recommendations for non-conventional therapies for Peyronie’s disease
Full table

For the correctional treatment of PD, intralesional therapies are recommended. These include the administration of Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum (Xiaflex^®), interferon α-2β, or verapamil (25-28). Collagenase Clostridium Histolyticum is the first FDA, and Health Canada approved therapy for PD (28). The CUA and AUA recommend that clostridial collagenase should be used as first line, followed by verapamil or interferon α-2β as the second line (25,26). In terms of mechanical therapy, penile traction or vacuum pump are recommended as they are shown to correct penile pain and support penile length (25-27). Surgical treatments include penile plication, plaque excision/incision, and grafting, or implantation of a penile prosthesis.

At present, there are several limitations preventing broader applicability of the presented non-conventional PD therapies. Firstly, many of the proposed treatments are still in experimental stages and lack robust randomized control trials in patient populations. Secondly, head-to-head studies comparing these treatments to the standard of care are lacking and would be important for stakeholders when updating clinical guidelines. Thirdly, reporting of statistically significant improvements in PD parameters must also be clinically relevant. Lastly, current studies offer limited discussion on complication rates, cost, and availability, which is essential for patients and providers when making informed decisions about treatment. While the prospect of integrating these treatments into gamut of validated PD therapies is enticing, the current evidence supporting these options is limited and still leaves much to be desired. Until more higher-level evidence is available, patients should be cautioned against using these non-conventional treatments in place of the accepted standard of care.

One must consider why such an explosion of novel therapies exists. From a patient perspective, there is an enormous demand for safer, more effective, and cheaper options. Providers and academics may be motivated by financial and research incentives. As we continue to find new targets for therapies, we may gain added insight into the pathogenesis of PD. Finally, pharmaceutical companies may be interested in entering this market and are facilitated by the availability of direct-to-consumer advertising.

Conclusions

While there are several non-conventional therapies for PD available, the limited and low quality of evidence supporting these alternatives precludes their use as the standard of care. Physicians play a significant role in providing evidence-based recommendations and addressing patient concerns regarding these non-conventional therapies. At this time, larger, randomized prospective studies are needed to understand the therapeutic value better and the risks of these alternatives.

Acknowledgments

Funding: None.

Footnote

Provenance and Peer Review: This article was commissioned by the Guest Editors (Larry I. Lipshultz, Alexander W. Pastuszak) for the focused issue “Contemporary Issues and Controversies in Men’s Health” published in Translational Andrology and Urology. The article was sent for external peer review organized by the Guest Editors and the editorial office.

Conflicts of Interest: The focused issue “Contemporary Issues and Controversies in Men’s Health” was commissioned by the editorial office without any funding or sponsorship. Dr. Grober & Dr. Krakowsky: Consultants—Paladin Labs. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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