Choose your treatment
Serving You Since 2004

Villa 520A, Jumeirah Beach Road, Jumeirah 3, Dubai, UAE

Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (APRP) is a new treatment for Erectile Dysfunction in men.

Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (APRP) is a new treatment for Erectile Dysfunction in men.

In recent years there was significant interest in regenerative medicine technology due to its high effectiveness with good safety and low cost. Currently, APRP has been used successfully in various fields of medicine (surgery, traumatology, and orthopedics, sports medicine, cosmetics).

However, until now there have been no studies consistent with evidence-based medicine verifying the effectiveness and long-term results of APRP application for ED treatment.

This article presents the results of a clinical study on the use of APRP in men with ED with a comparative effectiveness analysis of different ways of APRP administration and in combination with PDE5 inhibitors. Possible mechanisms of action of APRP in restoring erectile function are discussed.

Purpose of PRP

Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is used increasingly in a variety of settings.

PRP injections have been used for decades to improve angiogenesis and wound healing. They have also been offered commercially in urology with little to no data on safety or efficacy. PRP could theoretically improve multiple urologic conditions, such as Erectile Dysfunction (ED), Peyronie’s Disease (PD), and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI).

A concern with PRP, however, is an early washout, a situation potentially avoided by conversion to Platelet-Rich Fibrin Matrix (PRFM).

Before clinical trials can be performed, safety analysis is desirable. We reviewed an initial series of patients receiving PRFM for urologic pathology to assess safety and feasibility.

Materials and Methods

Data were reviewed for patients treated with PRFM at our center from November 2012 to July 2017. Patients were observed immediately post-injection and at follow-up for complications and tolerability.

Where applicable, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) scores were reviewed before and after injections for ED and/or PD. Pad use data was collected pre/post injection for SUI.

Results

Seventeen patients were identified, with a mean receipt of 2.1 injections per patient. Post-procedural minor adverse events were seen in 3 men, consisting of mild pain at the injection site and mild penile bruising.

No patients experienced complications at follow-up. No decline was observed in men completing pre/post-IIEF-5 evaluations.

Conclusions

PRFM appears to be a safe and feasible treatment modality in patients with urologic disease.

Further placebo-controlled trials are warranted.