Severe Erectile Dysfunction May Respond to Shockwave Therapy

Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy may benefit men with severe erectile dysfunction, researchers reported online ahead of print in the International Journal of Urology.

Chi-Hang Yee, MD, and colleagues at The Chinese University of Hong Kong studied 58 men with ED who received either low-intensity shockwave therapy (30 patients) or a sham treatment (28 patients). The two groups did not differ significantly in baseline International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF) domain score and Erection Hardness Score.

At week 13, the mean IIEF-EF domain score in the shockwave therapy and sham arms was 17.8 and 15.8, respectively. The mean Erection Hardness Score was 2.7 and 2.4. These differences were not statistically significant. The shockwave therapy, however, was superior to sham treatment in a subgroup of men with severe ED (mean IIEF-EF domain score 10.1 vs. 3.2).

From the August 01, 2014 Issue of Renal and Urology News