Defining the clinical characteristics of Peyronie's disease in young men

Peyronie's disease (PD) is usually seen in men in their fifth decade of life.

In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the disease in young men.

The demographics, clinical features, and associated comorbidities of the patients with PD were retrospectively reviewed.

The findings were compared between men with the disease who were under 40 years of age with those over 40 years. Statistical analyses were conducted to define differentiating features between these two groups.

Of the 296 patients, 32 were under the age of 40 years and 264 over 40 years. The mean duration of the disease was 2 +/- 4 and 6 +/- 8 months in the respective age groups. Fifty-six percent of the patients under the age of 40 years and 75% of the patients over this age presented with curvature (P < 0.01). Thirty-seven percent under 40 years and 12% men over 40 years had more than one plaque at presentation (P < 0.01). Dupuytren's contracture was seen only in patients over 40 years of age. Pain at presentation was found in 75% under the age of 40 years and in 65% over 40 years (P = 0.03). Trauma history was found in 18% under 40 years and in 5% over this age (P < 0.01). Statistical significant differences were found between the groups under and over the age of 40 years for hypertension (P < 0.01) and dyslipidemia (P < 0.01). Diabetes was noted in 50% of the patients under the age of 40 years and in 18% of the patients over this age (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis of conditions associated in men with PD under 40 years of age showed statistical significant differences for diabetes (P = 0.015), presentation within 6 months (P = 0.004), and having multiple plaques (P = 0.008).

Young men with PD are more likely to present at an earlier stage of the disease, to have diabetes, and to have more than one plaque at the time of presentation.