Peyronie's disease (IPP)

Peyronie's disease (Peyronies), also known as Morbus Peyronie or Induratio Penis Plastica (IPP), results in a bent penis due to collagen accumulation and tissue contraction, similar to Dupuytren's disease. Possibly this is also due to a genetic disposition. In the literature some authors indicate that IPP is more likely caused by mini-inflammations and thus is different from Dupuytren's contracture. Other authors consider this as an aspect common to both diseases. IPP can appear quickly while Dupuytren's contracture typically develops over 5 - 10 years. It also seems that self-healing, i.e. spontaneous healing without treatment, is more frequent for IPP than for Dupuytren or Ledderhose (though self-healing cases might possibly not have been Peyronies). About 15 - 20 percent of patients suffering from Peyronie's also suffer from Dupuytren's contracture (abstract_Carrieri), thus supporting the concept of a common root cause.

Therapies for IPP are only partially similar to those of Morbus Dupuytren, for example shock waves and ultrasonic treatemeent seem to help some IPP patients but are not efficient for Dupuytren's contracture or Ledderhose while radiation therapy is in some countries applied for IPP as well as Dupuytren. Therapies of IPP are not discussed in further detail on this web site. When judging the success rate of a therapies, the natural disease progression needs to be understood and compared to, see Grasso M, Lania C, Blanco S, and Limonta G "The natural history of Peyronie's disease" Archivos españoles de urología 60 (2007) p 326-31 abstract_natural_Peyronies .

For surgical intervention the so-called Nesbit operation is most frequently being used link. It shortens the not affected side of the penis, thus achieving a straighter penis but typically also shortening its length. Removing the collagen plaque is an alternative that requires skin replacement but promises to not shorten the overall length of the penis.

 

Links for Peyronie's disease

For more information on IPP/Morbus Peyronie, please refer to the very active forum of the US Peyronie's Disease Society http://www.peyroniesforum.net/. Associated to this forum is also an excellent web site www.peyroniessociety.org. Yahoo also has an active group at ipp_yahoo_forum. http://www.curepeyronies.net/ is a non-profit site informing patients on therapies and root causes of IPP, also trying to raise funding for research. thebentnail.blogspot.com is a new blog on Peyronie's.

 

Page last modified: 03/14/2008