Low-intensity shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction and the influence of disease duration

Low-intensity shock-wave treatment (LiSWT) is a therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED) with good results reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of LiSWT on patients treated for ED and the influence of ED duration in treatment outcomes.

We performed an open-label single-arm prospective study of patients treated with LiSWT for ED. Patients were assessed with the IIEF-5 at baseline and at six weeks and three months after LiSWT, and with penile dynamic Doppler ultrasound before treatment and six weeks after. Patients were divided into two groups accordingly to ED evolution time: ≤ 24 months and > 24 months.

Twenty-five patients were enrolled, 13 had ED ≤ 24 months and 12 > 24 months. Median baseline IIEF-5 was 14, at 6 weeks post LiSWT was 16 (p < 0.001) and at 3 months post LiSWT was 18 (p < 0.001). Mean baseline peak systolic velocity (PSV) was 29.3 ± 13.0 cm/s, after LiSWT was 35.9 ± 15.2 cm/s (p 0.001). Mean baseline end-diastolic velocity (EDV) was 2.6 ± 4.8 cm/s and after LiSWT was 1.3 ± 4.3 cm/s (p 0.015). No statistical significative difference was identified between the two groups.

LiSWT is a safe, harmless and repeatable treatment tool for ED with good outcomes reported. Our results suggest that length of disease duration doesn´t negatively influences treatment results.