[Acute priapism associated with sickle cell disease in Senegal: clinical, therapeutic features and risk factors for...

To describe clinical and therapeutic features of ischemic priapism associated with sickle cell disease (SSD) in Senegalese men and to identify risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED).

The charts of all patients admitted to the Urology Department of Aristide Le Dantec University Teaching Hospital (Dakar) for ischemic priapism associated with SSD between January 2000 and September 2008 were retrospectively reviewed.

A total of 22 patients with a mean age of 19.5 +/- 9.9 years (6 - 41 years) were identified. The most affected age group was between 21 and 30 years. The mean duration between onset of the episode and admission was 89.6 +/- 103.1 hours (4 - 384 hours). Nine patients (40.9%) were admitted within 24 hours after the onset. Eight patients (36.3%) had a history of stuttering priapism. The sickle cell phenotype identified by electrophoresis was SS in 18 patients and AS in four. The main treatment modalities were corporeal aspiration that was performed with or without intracavernosal injection of sympathomimetics drugs and Al Ghorab shunt surgery that was used in ten patients with a success rate of 90 % (complete detumescence). With a mean follow-up of 3.8 +/- 1.5 years, nine (69.2%) of the 13 patients older than 16 years developed ED. The incidence of ED was significantly correlated with the duration of the priapism but not with SSD phenotype.

In Senegal ischemic priapism associated with sickle cell disease occurs mainly in young people. The incidence of ischemic priapism appears to be low but ED is common due to the prolonged duration of priapism.