Stem cell therapy for erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Regenerative Medicine
• Urology
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition with limited conventional treatment efficacy.
• Stem cell (SC) therapy offers a potential regenerative approach for ED.
• Investigating the overall effect of SC therapy (SCT) on ED is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To consolidate findings from clinical studies on SCT for ED.
• To provide an overview of intervention content and study designs in SCT for ED.
• To assess the overall effect of SCT on ED outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov.
• Meta-analysis using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, assessing heterogeneity with Q and I² statistics.

Main Results:

• Eleven studies showed significant improvements in International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) scores (mean effect 16.872).
• Statistically significant improvements observed in peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), erection hardness score (EHS), and resistive index (RI).
• High heterogeneity (I²=92.59%) noted; subgroup analyses revealed differences based on patient diagnosis, baseline IIEF, and SC type.

Conclusions:

• SCT is a promising alternative for ED treatment.
• Current evidence is limited by early-phase studies, small sample sizes, and heterogeneity.
• Further well-designed randomized controlled trials are required to confirm efficacy and guide clinical implementation.