[Low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction: A systematic review]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Andrology
• Sexual Medicine

Background:

• Organic erectile dysfunction (ED) affects a significant population, necessitating effective treatment options.
• Vascular etiology is a primary cause of organic ED, highlighting the need for vascular-focused therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave (SW) therapy for organic erectile dysfunction (ED).
• To synthesize evidence from existing literature on SW therapy for ED treatment.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA methodology.
• Searched Medline database (2000-2020) using keywords: "extracorporeal shock wave therapy", "erectile dysfunction", "sexuality" (MeSH).
• Included 19 articles: 13 randomized controlled trials and 6 meta-analyses.

Main Results:

• Low-intensity SW therapy demonstrated beneficial effects in treating ED.
• Efficacy was assessed using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Erection Hardness Score (EHS) scores.
• Penile hemodynamic improvements were noted in studies focusing on vascular etiology.

Conclusions:

• Extracorporeal shock wave (SW) therapy presents a theoretical basis for addressing vascular causes of organic erectile dysfunction (ED).
• Current use is supported by European professional societies, but data variability hinders standardized clinical protocols.
• Further research is required to establish definitive treatment guidelines for SW therapy in ED management.