[Evaluation of sexuality among Afro-Caribbean patients homozygous SS sickle cell disease followed in Martinique]

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate and compare retrospectively the sexuality of homozygous sickle cell patients from Martinique related to priapismic events using the IIEF-15 questionnary.

Patients and methods: Retrospective survey of 68 patients with sickle cell disease regularly followed up at sickle cell disease's center of Lamentin's hospital according to the occurrence and the type of priapism (intermittent or acute). We shared patients in three groups: no priapism (group 1), intermittent priapism (group 2) and acute priapism (group 3). Information regarding specific and preventive treatments to the disease, and events related to priapism have been gathered for all patients. Each patient's sexuality has been studied with the IIEF-15 questionnary and results have been compared between the groups to show the priapism's impact on sexual activity of these young men.

Results: In 37.3%, priapism was observed. The group 1 and 2 had better results than the group 3 on the EF score. There was no significative difference between the group 1 and 2. There was also no significative difference between the three groups on the SD, FO, IS and OS score. The increase of the priapism duration and the repetition of the episodes were associated to a decrease of the EF score.

Conclusion: Our study showed the lack of major impairment of erectile function in patients with intermittent priapism in opposition to the patients with acute priapism.