Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Peyronie's Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Peyronie's disease (PD) is associated with penile pain, deviation, and sexual dysfunction. Up till now, there is no conservative standard treatment for PD. However, the role of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is gaining increasing interest.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of ESWT on penile deviation, plaque size, erectile function, pain scale, and the rate of complications in PD patients.

Methods: PubMed database was searched for articles published from January 2000 to November 2020, using related keywords and including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) only. Meta-analysis and forest plots were carried out using RevMan, and outcomes were reviewed by 2 authors independently. PRISMA guidelines were used in this article to achieve the quantitative and qualitative synthesis of data.

Outcomes: Changes in penile deviation, plaque size, erectile function, pain scale, and the rate of ESWT related complications.

Results: The search yielded 73 articles. Three RCTs, including 117 patients in the ESWT group and 121 patients in the placebo group, were reviewed. ESWT is associated with reduction in plaque size (OR = 2.59, 95% CI (1.15-5.85), P= .02). No significant difference in reduction of penile deviation angle or rate of bruises were detected in post ESWT group when compared to placebo. No evidence was found to show an effect of ESWT on erectile function or pain scale.

Clinical implications: Based on the available RCTs, ESWT fails to improve penile curvature or pain in men with PD. Although ESWT may reduce plaque size, this remains of questionable clinical significance.

Strengths & limitations: RCTs used different metrics to report the same outcome. Missed data were imputed to match the requirements of meta-analysis. However, there is still much data that cannot be estimated.

Conclusion: The current data suggest that ESWT fails to improve penile curvature or pain in men with PD. Although ESWT may reduce plaque size, this remains of questionable clinical significance, and further studies are required to confirm findings. Bakr AM, El-Sakka A. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Peyronie's Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sex Med 2021;18:1705-1714.

Keywords: ESWT; Erection; Penile deviation; Peyronie's disease; Plaque.